Candidate Tracy M. Caprioni

From my post to the Asbury Park Press. Since the Press didn’t think it was important enough to publish what they asked for, I’ve given it to Scott Neuman to publish for me.

Tracy M. Caprioni – Independent Candidate for Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and member of the Democratic-Republican Party.

First, what are some of my accomplishments:

• Good Citizen Citation for the Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Governmental Resolution from the Borough of Eatontown
• Citation of Merit from the late Congressmen James Howard
• Citation of Merit from State Assemblymen Bennett
• Eagle Scout
• Constructed a protocol for the sex crimes unit of Monmouth County in 1998
• 1999 Became a recognized research scientists for the criminal justice system
• Experience with union matters on the district and county level (Monmouth County)

Questions for and from the Asbury Park Press

*Married to (spouse or domestic partner name if applicable), with (number of children if applicable).

I am not married. I have a wonderful intelligent daughter who will be 21 in 2 weeks.

*Background: (Professional and political experience).

I was a corporate/franchise manager for many years

Recognized researcher for the criminal justice system(data analysis)

Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice

Mathematics teacher for the Asbury Park School System for 12 years.

A respected union representative for many years. Have experience in handling legislative issues on a county level.

*Achievements claimed: (if applicable).

Eagle Scout

Various awards on my leadership ability and other achievements obtained in my years of teaching.

*Quote on why candidate is running:

We need to uphold both the spirit and letter of our constitution. Article the 1st is actually the law. It guarantees representation in Congress at a ratio of no more than 1 representative to 50,000 people. I am fighting to have this recognized and followed(see www.BoldTruth.com). We need to take the “P” out of politics and replace it with the “P” for people.

*1. Barnegat Bay clean-up.

This is a serious issue that faces all in Ocean County. This should not be even a debatable point for politicians to deliberate about. Serious steps MUST be taken NOW to improve the degradation of conditions in the Barnegat Bay. It is from the lack of governmental decision to correct such. The answer is simple…repair the water basins, protect DEP water quality rules where development is taking place(land use on watershed), adopt and strictly enforce a Total Maximum Daily Load(a pollution cap) for the Bay. The Bay will only get worse if these issues are not corrected now. Government should be “discouraging” sprawl development instead of “encouraging” due to the conditions of the Bay. There is a cost to having these issues addressed. However, that cost will be greater years from now. The cost will fall upon Ocean County, the Bay, the “billions of dollars” it brings in, and the citizens that depend on such.

*2. Diminishing county tax base as a result of continuing economic slump and its impact on funding county operations.

As you mentioned in question 4, Ocean County is growing. There is “no” diminishing tax base. The tax base is the people. The real issue is providing county operations and services without over-burdening the people.

*3. County poverty has almost doubled in a decade; impact on social services and position on the public debate over whether to build or not to build a homeless shelter.

There is no reason whether it be financial or ethical to come to the ideology that a homeless shelter is not needed. The fact that we do not have one in the face of poverty rate almost doubling over the past ten years appalls me. It is estimated that 11% of the Ocean County population is poor. We have over 10% unemployment in Ocean County. It becomes both a financial and emotional issue for our citizens. Homelessness is made worse when these conditions exist. We as a county must be highly sensitive and understanding in this matter. A shelter should be built as a hope when charity based facilities are the only relief for these adults and their children. We need to fund such where families can have hope in not only shelter, but the availability of social and state services. It is hard to understand how New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in the United States, yet we debate over the need to help out fellow citizens in hard times. This is a problem that we all must address. My question to someone who would debate not having some type of shelter would be “where would they go?”. Emergency hotel stay is not the answer. Sending them to another county is not the answer. This is something we as a county must take responsibility in. I say this to the people of Ocean County “If we can spend and obtain almost 55 million dollars on jail expansion for the 140,000 square food addition to the Ocean County jail, adding over 450 beds, to house over 800 inmates, hire 28 new correction officers…then why can’t we do the same for the adults and children effected by poverty and homelessness?”.

*4. Lakewood is expected to become possibly the third largest city in New Jersey in the next 25 years. Is Ocean County and its infrastructure ready?

We have an increasing advancement of communications, computers, software, and networks. This is a reality and something that cannot be ignored. The county needs to take a strategic approach to its infrastructure planning. We would need to use a data driven process with Lakewood and be in line with the county’s movement of goals as a whole. Lakewood has space but does not have reliable public infrastructure at this time. If Lakewood is going to the third largest city in New Jersey in the next 25 years, then we need to start looking at improving the infrastructure now. We need to look at improving delivery of services, collaborate on changes to the present infrastructure with the future in mind, possible county consolidations and the advantage of such, and more importantly finding savings in cost. The real answer to the question is that Ocean County “needs to be” ready.

Thanks for writing this. I’m standing up for the Position of Ocean Count Board of Chosen Freeholder. There are two positions open and I and Scott Neuman would like to work for the people of Ocean County.