Three seek two council seats in West Long Branch BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer One incumbent and two newcomers are vying for the two open seats on the West Long Branch Borough Council in the upcoming municipal election. Joseph G. Hughes Councilman Joseph C. Woolley, a Republican, is seeking his seventh consecutive term on council in the Nov. 6 election. He is being challenged by Democrat John Hegarty and Republican Joseph G. Hughes. Councilwoman Bettina E. Munson, a Democrat who was elected to council in 2004, is not seeking re-election. Woolley, Woodland Drive, said he wants to continue serving the borough because he wants to complete some unfinished business. "When you have been on council as long as I have, you always have things in front of you that you want to see accomplished," said Woolley, a mechanical contractor, last week. "I have more experience obviously because of the years I have already served on council," he said. "It takes time to figure out how the system works. "I have been at it for a long time and I know I can be an asset for the borough." The biggest issues facing the borough, according to Woolley, are the expansion of the West Long Branch police building and repairing and expanding borough parks. John Hegarty "I have been on council for 18 years, and in the 18 years I can tell you that the borough does not spend one more penny than it has to to run efficiently," he said. "I want to continue with what I have been doing and do a few more things for the borough." First-time candidate Hughes, of Pinewood Avenue, said he is seeking a seat on council to make sure property taxes are controlled as well as to preserve the quality of life in the borough. "I am a resident like every other resident," Hughes, an attorney, said. "I find that most people want what I want. They want people to be honest." According to Hughes, the biggest issues facing the borough are property taxes, environmental concerns and ethics in government. Hughes said that shared services is one way to control spending in the borough, adding that municipal costs account for only a portion of residents' tax bills. Joseph C. Woolley "We need to make sure we elect state senators and assemblymen who will have the same attitude at the state level that we have here in the borough, and that is to spend money wisely," Hughes said. He added that if elected, he would also work on improving the relationship between the borough and Monmouth University. "West Long Branch as a whole thinks Monmouth University is an asset and the students really do a lot to help our town," he said. He added that he would also like to see the borough's Web site updated. Building contractor and Fulton Avenue resident John Hegarty said he is running because he is a firm believer in democracy. "I ran last year and we ran a very successful campaign, and I care about the borough of West Long Branch," he said. "All the people getting appointed to all the committees in the borough have the 'let's squash Monmouth University' attitude. "It is all about stunting growth," he said, adding, "There is an agenda. I don't have a single agenda." Another issue facing the borough is the expansion and construction of a new borough police building. "My background is in construction," he said. "I am way more qualified than anyone on the council to build this building." If elected, Hegarty said he would also push to hire a borough administrator. "At this point in time we cannot afford to not have a borough administrator," he said. "The clerk is overworked. The borough attorney is overworked. Neither of them are borough administrators. "Yet between them, they are the ones responsible for everything," he said.