Juanita Lewis at home on Shrewsbury Avenue.
On Nov. 4, Red Bank voters will have four ballot choices for two seats on the borough council, now composed of four Democrats and two Republicans.
Both open seats, by happenstance, are held by Republicans: Grace Cangemi, who is running for re-election, and James Giannell, who is not running; he’s serving out the tail end of the term from which freeholder candidate John Curley resigned in July.
This week, redbankgreen is posting interviews with each of the candidates. Instead of transcripts, we’ve got the complete audio. The interviews are between 22 and 33 minutes in length. [See the editor's note at bottom of story.]
The interviews are not meant to be literal head-to-head comparisons. Rather, they cover some common issues — including taxes, a community center and healthcare coverage for the mayor and council — while exploring each candidate’s own experiences a bit in order to shed some light on who they are and how they think.
We’re running them in reverse alphabetical order; Democrat Ed Zipprich’s interview ran Monday; Republican John Tyler Jr. was featured yesterday, and we’ll wrap up with Cangemi on Thursday.
Today, we spotlight Democrat Juanita Lewis.
Juanita Lewis, now in her second term on the Red Bank Board of Education, also serves on the newly re-started Red Bank Borough Education Foundation. She’s been active in Red Bank Pop Warner. She’s also president of the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance, Inc.
Clearly, education and opportunity are passions in the life of Lewis, an unmarried, childless Red Bank native with an MBA. And they form a centerpiece of her first campaign for council.
“At the end of the Pop Warner season, you could tell it was the end of the season because you’d see kids wandering in the streets with no place to go and nothing to do,” she says. “It really does take an entire community to stand behind the kids. I think the schools are doing some absolutely amazing things… but I really think we can do more as a community to really stand behind the kids.”
Here’s redbankgreen’s 22-minute interview with Lewis, conducted October 13 in the exercise room of her home on Shrewsbury Avenue:
[Editor's note: When we interviewed the candidates, we did not plan to run the actual recordings; that decision came later. All candidates consented to being recorded, but at the time, they were told that "verbatim transcripts" of the interviews would appear.
One of the candidates has since expressed a concern about not having been aware that the full recording would run. For that, we apologize to all the candidates. But we'll take our lumps for deciding after the fact to use the recordings. We think they reveal more, both positive and negative, about the candidates, than a transcript ever could, and are thus more valuable to voters.]
She is very pro education does that mean she is willing to buck the dems and support school vouchers. This way kids in Red Bank can go to the same schools as Palone's & Obama's kids. I realize its not a town council issue but I felt like blowing off some steam.
Every picture of Lewis looks asthough she is crying. I guess if I lived in Red Bank I would be crying too. Your taxes are crazy high. Good luck with whoever winds.
She is not willing to buck the Dems. They are all on the same page. Listen to God and go for Tyler and Cangemi. They are on the side of the people of Red Bank not on the side of either party although the Rep. are the only ones willing to have straight forward individuals run on their ticket
hey red bank lady,The only side Tyler is on is the Republican. Just listen to his interview. He had nothing to bring to the table except he feels like a minni Curly. Juanita Lewis has proven her self to be very well educated and a hard worker on the Board of Ed. Tyler has complained the council is dragging its feet with Best Liquors. When in fact he knows it is not in the councils hands now. Local politics is not about Dem or Rep but who is best suited for the job. After listening to the Q&A interview, Mr. Tyler does not come even remotely close to being that person. He may be a nice man, but that is not enough.
Red Bank Guy..yeh right. Listen again to Juanita..she has nothing! She hasn't been to any council meetings. She votes for the school budget increase and she is and accountant!
Mr Tyler knows that it is in the hands of the judge. But as he said the Council was dragging there feet on even bringing this issue up!
I don't know where you have been but he is always fighting and getting involved to make sure that everyone in Red Babk gets treated fairly..Have you seen Juanita or Ed for that matter walking the westside looking out for there neighbors? No..only during election time..
Mr Tyler is trying to stay on top of things.
He walks his neighborhood and talks to the people.
I would rather have him a person who at least gives it a fair go of things then someone who thinks because she has alot of degrees makes her qualified. Being book smart is one thing..being people smart is another! Mr Tyler and Miss Cangemi you have my vote and with God on your side you can't loose!
Dear Westside Voter,
You are one of my more intellegent creations. As I have said before this is about Good vs Evil and nothing else. John and Grace are trying to make Red Bank a better place to live and work in. The Democrats have had the majority rule for almost 20 years and have taken advantage of the people they serve. Their interests mostly involve giving jobs and favors to their friends which result in hurting the people of Red Bank. If you believe in me, then you must do the right thing and elect John and Grace to represent the people of this great town and push Satan out the door. Thank you!
Satan, you say? That would explain the red face.
But really, take a look at where this town was 20 years ago and where it is now. Not everything that happened during McKenna's reign hurt the people of Red Bank.
Still, I would like to see at least one Republican on the Council, just to shake things up and keep an eye out.
The remark appeared in an Asbury Park Press story Sunday, a look-back at the federal investigation dubbed Operation Bid Rig, which wound up in charges against nearly two dozen elected and appointed officials in Monmouth County.
None were from Red Bank. But in a remark caught on tape by his chauffeur, Tony Palughi (then still squiring the recently retired, 78-year-old Larrison around in a county car), Larrison brags of his clout in winning municipal business for brothers Stephen and Matthew Appolonia, owners of Interntional Trucks of Central Jersey. And he implies that some of that grease was applied in Red Bank.
While ranting that International hadn't given his own company, Larrison Fuel Oil, a break on an invoice, Larrison said, according to Press reporter Bob Cullinane's story:
"How about the ——— hours I spent on the phone with Middletown, Red Bank and Howell? (Appolonia) was ——— in Howell until I got into the act. Isn't my time worth something?" he gripes to Palughi, according to FBI transcripts of tape recordings. But when Palughi tries to offer Larrison advice, the former freeholder barks, "Keep your mouth shut . . . shut! It's nobody's business but mine."
At last night's Borough Council meeting, Republican John Curley brought up the Press story, and said he had "contacted the FBI to request a full investigation of these comments."
Curley then immediately segued into a reference to the borough's $2.45 million purchase last February of property on which the Cedar Crossings affordable housing project is to be built. Curley said he had asked the FBI to investigate that as well.
"I do not believe that deal was legal," Curley said with rising anger.
Your Turn
Republicans will stop the budget insanity in Red Bank
Guest Column • Kim Senkeleski
Stop the insanity in Red Bank. I have read that the definition of insanity is doing the same bad thing over and over again …
According to the Red Bank Borough budget resolutions 04-206, 05-126, 06-175, 07-183 and 08-159, the borough of Red Bank has increased its budget by a whopping $3,972,353 in the short period of five years. Even more appalling is the fact that the increase in spending over the last two economically challenging years accounts for 73 percent, or $2,901,264, of that five-year-total increase. In addition to increasing our yearly spending like there's no tomorrow, the leaders of this town have increased borrowed monies by $1,032,597 during this same fiveyear span.
Budgets are passed by the Red Bank Council members by a "majority" vote. In the last five years, the Democratic Council majority has always voted "yes" for the budget and the Republican "minority" has always voted "no."
I bring up this point for one reason. The Red Bank Council currently has four Democrats and two Republicans. Those two Republican seats are up for election in November.
If Grace Cangemi and John Tyler, the two Republican Council candidates, are not elected, the Democrats' "majority" vote in the Red Bank Council will become a "monopoly."
He runs on an republican ticket, he runs for the people in town who want a great neighborhood, who want to walk their streets in safety. WTF, is that not enough, I have yet to see the other two come and offer something of substance. Same old crap from the dems, march when you want us, until then go EFF yourself. Tyler is in your face 24 7, about an issue that counts! and grace should be renamed the pitbull of the council because she wont let go, and fights all the way, for the TOWN!
Miss Lewis and Ed;
Rreceived your nicelittle blue card in the mail..threw it in the garbage. How can you send out a mailer with nothing but lies on it about the other 2 candidates!
So I ask you Miss Lewis..since you are and accountant how could you vote all the time for the school budget that incresed our taxes? Why is it that everytime you go to a Board meeting you take the time to clean out your pocket book instead of paying attention to the meeting?
To send out those mailers with all that miss information is awful.
Sorry I have to vote for Cangemi and Tyler!
They have been the most honest and when was the last time you could say Honest before any candidate..Ahh..Honest Abe!
I have to agree with Westsider here Juanita. Curley and Cangemi both started the push for Zero based budgeting and Tyler came out in the last campaign supporting it. THIS IS NOT YOUR OR EDS IDEA.
Cangemi and Curley have never voted to increase taxes, look at the polling. That has always been a majority vote by the dems 5 to 1 or 4 to 2, A BOLD LIE AGAIN. They also didn't vote to give out pay raises in a time of severe financial difficulty ANOTHER BOLD LIE. 5 dems for 1 republican against. I'm surprised at you Juanita for lending your name to such blatant lies. They voted against raising property taxes dems won again 4 to 2. Shame on you and Ed.
Looked at the new campaign phote ad this is my take on our Borough Election.
Mayor Menna,
I think Mayor should stay neutral and not take side. Or am I being naive.
What is the buisness of the emergency service vehicles vote ?
westsidertoo,
what vote, what are you talking about? I didn't see a question or any thing on emergency vehicles.
The flier we got from the Democrats, stated that the Republicans voted no on emergency service vehicles. What emergency service vehicles ?
I remember a vote to replace a 20-year-old police fire truck:
http://www.redbankgreen.com/redbankgreen/2008/05/borough-to-buy.html#more
Could that be what they're talking about?
Curley flip-flopped and voted for it (www.redbankgreen.com/redbankgreen/2008/05/curley-stands-d.html), but I'm not sure how Cangemi voted.
I seem to remember a half-million dollar fire truck coming up a while back, but I can't remember if it came to a vote, and I can't find anything on it.
I tossed the Zipprich/Lewis fliers without reading them, so I don't know what they allege about Republicans approving budgets. Here's what I could find:
Cangemi voted against the 2008 budget, I guess Curley was gone by then. In 2007, Curley voted *for* the budget, Cangemi was absent(www.redbanknj.org/council_minutes_082707.pdf).
Dan, it wasnt a fire truck it was to replace the EMS vehicle that was up to vote. Curley voted against it, not because we couldnt use it but because he wanted new bids and the fact that the borough had just raised property taxes. Thing was it was approved two years ago.
The vehicles are supposed to be replaced on a schedule. The expense is great.
These replacments are usualy the basis for political debate due to the lack of public and political understanding of what the need is,and what the current standards are that regulate the safety aspects of this equiptment for the end user,(in your case Red Bank,The Volunteers). No one wants to purchase them but at election time both sides like to play the public safety issue. In a City with career public safety personel, its salaries and contracts that are debated. (The later scenerio cost more).
It is certainly easy for the republicans to say they voted against a tax increase by voting no on the budget, yet they vote yes for every major expenditure that results in the increased budget. That's like ordered from the menu at the restaurant, cleaning your plate, and voting not to pay the bill! It's a political tactic that got Jennifer to the Assembly and John to the Freeholder race and it's very easy to do when you're the minority vote. You can reap the political benefit of voting no on the budget, yet you can walk down the newly paved street and say "how do you like it!". And as for Kim Senkenleski's analysis of the budget with the following comment -
"Even more appalling is the fact that the increase in spending over the last two economically challenging years accounts for 73 percent, or $2,901,264, of that five-year-total increase." She fails to mention that the budget increases she refers to were directly offset by grants received for those particular programs. Specifically, over $2 million of that $2,901.264 was money given to the Borough by the State for the purchase of the Cedar Crossing property for affordable housing. The cost has to be placed in the budget as an expense despite the fact it is fully funded by a grant. The same applies to the road program grants, drunk driving enforcement grants, click it or ticket grant, etc. If you're going to comment and refer to the budget, ask the questions so you better understand. The fact is Borough Spending went down!
To Hey Gary;
So since spending went down is that why we still have to pay for their health insurance!
Tyler wants to try Zero base budgetting.
Cangemi wants to watch out for our poor water system that really isn't up to par.
Both of them combined want what is best for
Red Bank and they both always tell us to come to the council meetings with any problems or ideas and they are always willing to listen. But do we do it..NO!
Well..I'm going to give them a chance to prove and back up what they have been preaching. John Tyler and Grace Cangemi you say you are for the people of Red Bank so I'm going to vote for you! If you don't live up to your promise then next time you are out. But I have a feeling that you will bring much needed change to Red Bank!
As quoted before..you both seem like honest people who really care and when was the last time you could put Honest in front of a candidates name? Remember Honest Abe Lincoln!