Cox And Taylor Running For Barnegat Township Committee

BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, NJ - Enough is enough.

William Cox and Elaine Taylor say they are tired of the one-sided, rubber-stamped politics and cronyism on the all-GOP Township Committee.

So they plan to run as Independents for the available seats in the November election.

"In Barnegat there can be such a thing as “Unity before Politics,” according to a post on their Facebook page. "There can be a time when candidates are chosen not because of the letter after their name, but rather the dedication they hold within. They can not even get along with themselves let alone lead the town."

Four committee members recently voted to censure Mayor Frank Caputo, after what Committeeman John Novak said was the result of "improper touching and/or assault of a committeeman, the display of an out-of- control, profanity-laden tirade and the threat of violence against another committeeman," according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.

Caputo denied the allegations, but admitted to becoming "loud and boisterous" after a February committee meeting.

He said he put his hands on Deputy Mayor Alfonso Cirulli's shoulders, but said Cirulli was comforting him.
Cirulli disagreed. He told app.com that Caputo had put his hands on his throat "in a rage."

The censure vote included a vote of "no confidence." Caputo voted no.

Cirulli and Caputo said the disagreements were partly related to the mayor's decision to seek re-election. His term expires at the end of this year.

But Caputo says the disagreements stem from his objections about Novak seeking a position as emergency management coordinator for the township. Caputo said he feared the position would end up being a paid job in the future.

Jumping from a Township Committee seat to a paid township job is not unusual in Barnegat.

Business Administrator Martin Lisella moved from a committee seat to his current position, which pays $144,920 a year. Former Committeewoman Susan McCabe, resigned from her seat on Jan. 1 to take a job as the township's conflict and labor attorney for $90,000.

"But the bottom line is this town is mismanaged and before long it will fall off the shelf unless things change," Cox said. "Taxes are crazy and all they do is cut services and bond for more stuff."

Taylor and Cox both filed for Township Committee seats back in 2015. Cox ran as an Independent and lost. Taylor ran as a Democrat along with McCabe. Taylor later dropped out of the race and threw her support to the Independent ticket. McCabe later changed her political affiliation to Republican.

Photos: Courtesy of Cox and Taylor Facebook page