Midland Park May 25, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Independents to mount mayoral, council challenge Former Midland Park Board of Education trustee Russell Kamp and incumbent Mayor Joseph Monahan announced last week that they will run as Independents for the mayor’s seat and one of the two available council seats, respectively, in the November election. Petitions with a minimum of 89 signatures are due by the filing deadline of June 7, Primary Day. Kamp will be challenging Councilman Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan for the four-year mayor’s seat being vacated by Monahan. Monahan is running for one of the two threeyear council seats now held by Councilmen Mike Junta and Nick Papapietro. The three men are running unopposed for their respective positions in next month’s Republican primary. “We are both aligned on the continuation of the same goals and accomplishments over the last four years as well as some prior to that,” Monahan said. He said in a statement that he based his decision to seek a council seat on three factors: “First and foremost was my desire to continue the progress achieved during the prior four years. Second, was the overwhelming outpouring that I’ve received from the community to reconsider my decision to not run for Mayor, resulting in me seeking a Council seat, which strikes a better balance between my family time, the desire to serve the community and my professional workload. Finally, the notion of being able to partner with Russ as part of a strong credible team capable of delivering more to the community was very compelling. “While I believe there’s has been great progress over the last four years as we built on prior successes, there is more work to be done, and I believe that I can play a meaningful role supporting Russ as mayor and leveraging the relationships and credibility developed with the current council, board of education, residents and businesses alike,” Monahan said. Kamp explained his reasons for running, saying, “Midland Park, like many communities in our nation, is at a crossroads between desiring quality services and having the financial wherewithal to pay for them. I believe that my financial background and leadership qualities combined with my knowledge of the community acquired through my participation in numerous activities make me well suited to help guide Midland Park through the significant challenges that we face. Lastly, with four of my five children now adults and mostly out of the house and with work demanding far less business travel, I felt that the time was right for me to pursue this position.” Kamp said that his and his running mate’s platform is “designed to further Midland Park’s image as a ‘town of choice’ while building on prior successes via: • Attraction of quality businesses to bolster our tax base and improve services to residents • Beautification of our downtown and recreation areas through grants and code enforcement • Partnerships with our school system to leverage common efforts and lower the overall tax levy • Exploration and expansion of shared service opportunities • Enhancement of our recreational programs for all ages and needs • Fair, collaborative and transparent public governance.” Kamp was on the Midland Park Board of Education from 1995 -2004. He has served as manager/coach for numerous Midland Park sports programs for nearly 20 years and was coordinator of the 2010 Midland Park High School graduation ball ceremonies. He was a trustee of West Bergen Mental Healthcare for nine years, including four years as president. He and his wife, Laurie, have lived in Midland Park for over 25 years. They have five children and are members of the Church of the Nativity, where Kamp serves as a trustee and chairman of the finance committee. A graduate of Fordham University with a degree in business, Kamp is senior vice president and director, asset management, for Two Sigma Investments in New York City. Monahan, a 17-year resident, holds an engineering degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA in finance from Rutgers University. He is the vice president of administration and operations for Polo Ralph Lauren in New York City. He and his family are active in the PTA, special education, recreation league, Scouts, Midland Park Education Foundation, and are Church of the Nativity parishioners. Co nsu FR lta tio EE n 201-652-4447 201-818-5673 MIDLAND PARK 1973 - 2011 ~ 38 Years of Excellence CALL NOW! 24 Godwin Avenue 246 No. Franklin Tpk RAMSEY