Candidate Profile: Michael Thulen (R)

Editor's Note: Each of the eight candidates running for a seat on the township council responded to a questionnaire sent by Brick Patch. Their answers to our questions will be published on our site verbatim. Two candidate profiles per day – one Republican and one Democrat – in alphabetical order according to last name, will appear this week until all have been published. We have disabled comments on profile articles to ensure the candidates' statements speak for themselves and readers can decide, without additional, potentially anonymous commentary, their view on those running for office.

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Full Name: Michael A. Thulen, Sr.

Current Age: N/A

Highest level of education achieved (feel free to list your high school, college, and the nature of any degrees you have earned):

The Richard Stockton College, Pomona NJ - Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science & Public Administration, 1997

SUNY at Delhi, Delhi NY - Associates Degree in Applied Science in Building Construction, 1975

Occupation:

Project Manager & Lead Estimator - Monmouth Excavators Inc., Freehold NJ

Part-time Housing Inspector - Rehabco Inc., Brick NJ

Do you currently receive any public salary compensation? If so, from what public agency?

I receive $8,000.00 per year for being a Councilman and have health benefits as a single person.

Have you ever previously held an elected office in Brick or elsewhere?

Current councilman.

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

If re-elected I plan to continue the same plan.  This is the same compensation that was given in 1993.

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Question 1:

 Like those in most New Jersey communities, property taxes are, perhaps, the primary concern of most township residents in this election cycle. Regardless of the impact of state policies on our property tax bills, summarize some specific ideas you have to stabilize or reduce the property tax burden for Brick residents.

This team has over and over again managed the township funds in a manner that either saves the township costs or finds new ways of funding other than going back to the tax payer.  Cutting programs or staff to allow more cost efficient system or finding new methods to bring income to the township.

Question 2:

Though it held relatively stable in the recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, crime in Brick has been trending upward in recent years. Compounding matters, our police department, due to budgetary constraints, also recently had to disband its Selective Enforcement Team (SET Team), a specialized anti-crime unit. Please describe your plan, including specifics, to maintain and promote public safety in Brick.

There has been no disbanding of any units in the police department.  The scheduling of manpower is at the direction of the Chief of Police.  Budgeting of that the department is also done by the Chief and the Mayors Administration.  We as the policy makers of the Township have continued to put pressure on all parties to cut costs and streamline programs to make things most efficient.  The PBA has recently agreed to lower starting salaries and to lengthen the time for reaching top salaries, these changes will help the Township in future budgets for years to come.

Question 3:

Please describe your vision for the former Foodtown site on Route 70, and how you would favor executing that vision and bringing it to fruition.

The Foodtown site has been a waste since Mayor Scarpelli and his Democrat Council brought the property.  I have pushed to get it back on the tax rolls since first elected to the council.  It may have taken a long time to get here, but very soon I believe the town will see a viable enterprise that everyone will agree looks great and will bring jobs and income back to Brick Township.  A hotel with a banquet center will be the center piece, an upscale food center and possibly a pharmacy satellite building will complete the site.

Question 4:

Brick has more frontage on Barnegat Bay that any other community in Ocean County. In all, it boasts 53 miles of waterfront. Keeping in mind that many of these waterfront lands are privately owned, what is your plan to promote public access to natural areas and maintain other recreational facilities for Brick residents?

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