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Politics & Government

Township GOP Incumbents: Cuts Taxes, Not Services

Republican candidates look to retain two township committee seats.

Four candidates consisting of two Republicans and two Democrats, are running for two open seats on the for the June primaries.

The Republican candidates, Bruce Sisler and H. Scott Rosenbush are both incumbents, and shared some information about their backgrounds and their views on important issues in the township.

The Democrat candidates are Ron Goldberg and Noel Robinson.

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About Bruce Sisler:

Bruce Sisler has lived in Morris Township his entire life, and lives in the Fairchild section where he was born and raised. He is currently serving his first elected position as a committeeman, and was of Morris Township in January. He also serves as the chief of staff for Assemblyman Anthony Bucco. 

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Sisler is involved in many community associations such as the Fairchild Neighborhood Association, and has been a T-Ball and Little League coach for the town. 

In terms of issues the town is facing, Sisler believes that property taxes, government spending and services are among the most important topics.

"People are concerned about property taxes, especially in this economy," he said. "We need to keep our budgets trimmed and slim but at the same time make sure that the services that are provided by the township are as pristine as they can be."

For the upcoming year, Sisler said the committee will continue to do what they've been doing in recent years. 

"The services that we provide are so vital and important that we have to continue to look for ways to keep our DPW moving in a positive direction."

Sisler said that one of the things they initiated in the new budget will include a capital investment for a different type of garbage truck. The new truck will reduce the number of men needed on each truck by using a mechanical arm that picks up the garbage. He says it will reduce workers' compensation issues and provide an opportunity to move the workers elsewhere to help with other things such as paving roads.

It's initiatives like this that Sisler believes are important for cutting costs and keeping taxes down.

About H. Scott Rosenbush:

H. Scott Rosenbush has lived in Morris Township for 27 years, and has been on the township committee for 17 years. He has also served as the mayor in 2004, 2005, and from 2009 to 2011.

Rosenbush is active in the community and is part of several organizations, such as the Morristown Rotary Club and the Cincinnati Lodge Number 3 Free and Accepted Masons.

During the day, he works as a business manager for Botanicals, a company that sells products to nutritional supplement companies such as GNC.

Rosenbush said there are three main issues that are most important in Morris Township; fiscal management, the town services, and public safety.

Rosenbush said that the town has a long history of good fiscal policy. 

"I view one of my biggest responsibilities as maintaining that good fiscal policy and management oversight," he said.

Rosenbush said that last year's budget was not only under the cap, but also not spent completely, even dealing with the two major storms which cost the town over $500,000.

"That goes to the good fiscal management culture that's established by the committee," he said.

Providing full services but also keeping spending down is another important topic that Rosenbush said. 

Some of these services Rosenbush said are the paid and volunteer fire departments, the full recreational services, the DPW, and a full volunteer ambulance squad.

Rosenbush said that public safety is probably the most important thing that the township can provide to residents, and he plans to work to maintain those services. 

In addition to the police department and five fire houses in the township, there is the also an Office of Emergency Management and the town's Minutemen First Aid Squad.

"When you get down to the base needs of people they want to feel safe in their community, and I think we provide that," Rosenbush said.

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