Welch: I'll Look to Keep Taxes Down if Elected to Point Boro Council

Brian Welch says he's running for Point Borough Council to help find ways to keep taxes down and to offer more for families.

"I really want to get more involved," he said on Thursday afternoon.

Welch was quickly recruited by local Democrats to run for one of two three-year council seats when

McHugh filed paperwork with Ocean County officials on Tuesday to withdraw from the ballot, just making the Tuesday afternoon deadline to do so.

Councilman Chris Leitner, now the only incumbent Democrat running for re-election, was at county election offices on Thursday. He filed paperwork for Welch to run, meeting a deadline on Thursday for new candidates to be on the November ballot.

Originally,

Welch, 36, who works primarily as a union pipe fitter and is also a master plumber, has lived in the borough since 2004.

He is married to Danielle Welch and they have two children, Brigid, 1, and Erin, 3. They live on Passaic Avenue.

Welch said he and his wife recently found out about the high demand for the  borough recreation's pre-school program when his wife waited in line for two hours to register their oldest daughter.

"I'd like to see if there are ways to expand the pre-school," he said. "I'm willing to look into it."

"I'd like to continue where Jack left off and do more for families," he continued. "I truly think I can bring a different perspective to council."

When asked what costs he would cut to help keep taxes down, he said he'll hopefully find ways to do so once he is elected.

When asked if he has ever been to a borough council meeting, he said no because his union keeps him busy with work.

However, he said he is confident he has the time for council and committee meetings.

Now it remains to be seen if Democrats can overcome the challenge of losing an incumbent with name recognition.

When asked if the Republican slate will have an easier time getting elected now that Democrats have lost an incumbent, Tom Szymanski, Republican campaign manager, said, "I don't know if it will be easier or harder. I don't think I could speculate. But our strategy hasn't changed.

"Our candidates have name recognition in their own circles," he said, noting they have both done different types of local volunteer work.

"But the challenge is always to get the name recognition beyond their own circles so they can win a general election," he said.