I was asked recently online to provide more specific positions on certain issues. Here are the questions and my answers.

1) State budget - how will you balance the budget?

If you mean the Twp. Regarding the state and county budgets, we need to be creative and not expect instant results. As I state on my website, 1st we have to go into survival budget mode. Meaning, getting down to necessities without giving up what's important to give us the services we need. We have to be realistic in that we can't expect the cavalry to arrive. We need to work with and negotiate shared services and purchasing with the county and state. We must be proactive in planning for the near and distant future by making pragmatic and responsible decisions that will stabilize the budget. It will take small and large actions.

2) Housing affordability for the middle class and the poor.

2. Affordable housing: This is an area we need to address from multiple angles. We need to address property taxes that are increasing costs for owners and developers. We need to examine the definition of 'affordable' and explore ways to adjust the percentage required for new development.

3) Division - how do you propose to end division among parties, races, hate towards gays, immigrants, women, Jewish, etc?

3- Division- I see the problem stems from inherent bias, in that we aren't born with issues with others, but we are exposed to bias at an early age. We solve it by first accepting that it's real, though we might not be consciously aware of it. Secondly, we use education to address inclusivity vs exclusiveness in our schools, statements to call out when we see discrimination, and the stands we openly take as a community.

4) Education

4- Education- I envision our school system becoming a model of public education. This would require a strong plan with measurable results and accountability. Set higher goals that beat the accepted averages for reading and math. A holistic approach to learning in the curriculum that includes creating flexible classroom environments that allow for collaboration and individual work, integrating real-life experiences into lessons, and providing students with choices in how they demonstrate their understanding of material. This approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of academic, emotional, social, and physical development in students.

5) Healthcare costs, including prescriptions and the price of health insurance

5- Healthcare- This is tricky on the local level since many of the items mentioned are not directly handled on the local level. Yet, we, as a hopefully well-represented community, have and should use our strong voices to not only discuss our concerns but to shout them out and demand solutions from the "powers that be". We need to be the strongest public advocate for results. We also need to encourage other local governments to join us.

6) Crime

6. Crime - We must adopt a progressive approach to crime at the local level, which often emphasizes community engagement and crime prevention strategies, such as Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), involving community participation in planning to reduce crime. This method has shown promise in reducing overall crime rates by fostering collaboration between residents and law enforcement, rather than relying solely on increased policing.

7) Climate Change

7- Climate Change- To address climate change locally, especially but not exclusively near the ocean, communities can enhance resilience by restoring natural coastal habitats, building flood-proof infrastructure, and implementing smart land-use planning. Additionally, reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy and energy efficiency measures is crucial.

8) Abortion

8- Abortion- This is a personal issue between a woman, her doctor, and her family. I don't think the government has the knowledge and the right to be involved

9) Religion in Politics

9. Religion in Politics - The Constitution separates religion and the state, and I couldn't agree more. Too many wars lead to death and destruction. If one's beliefs include love and not dominance, all said, I'm all for it, but I'm not in favor of the government being involved.