Election Profile: Barry Jacobson For Manalapan Township Committee

MANALAPAN, NJ - One seat is up for grabs on the Manalapan Township Committee this year, and two candidates have filed for a spot, according to the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.

Incumbent Barry Jacobson, a Republican, will be running for his current seat in 2021. Democrat Bashir Mohammad will be challenging Jacobson for his spot.

You can read more about Mohammad’s campaign platform here.

Jacobson, 68, is a Manalapan resident of 26 years and a township committeeman since 2018. The Republican candidate is a retired disability policy program expert with the Social Security Administration with a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College.

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Why are you seeking elective office?

Seeking re election. Originally I ran because while working in Manhattan I started volunteering in town on the Transportation Committee and Heritage Committee/Manalapan Arts Council. After retirement I was then appointed to the Planning Board, Environmental commission and Economic Development Council. In addition, I attended almost all township meetings since 2006 until I was elected. With that experience and insight into how the State, County and Town function, I decided to pursue a seat on the Township Committee.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is ________, and this is what I intend to do about it:

Recovery from the pandemic.

Last year was a perfect storm in that increased expenditures to handle the outbreak, combined with decreased revenues ( loss of income from parking fees, court income and interest income) affected almost all towns and cities across the county. We need to ensure all services we provide are done efficiently and look to expand our tax base using clean ratables to help offset the impact on our residential property ratepayers.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

My challenger has not attended any meetings even prior to the pandemic. He even neglected to attend our budget hearing that was held on May 12. I, on the other hand, while working and commuting to NYC, and raising two young children with my wife, found time as an involved resident for the few nights a month to be an active member of the Transportation Committee, Heritage Committee/Manalapan Arts Council, and Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

We want to explore the use of solar on Municipal property to offset the utility charges. Long range we want to see if we can accommodate electric charging stations through encouraging private providers to install such stations. Lastly, trying to balance our taxable property. At present the burden is about 92 percent on residential properties. If we can increase clean ratables that are non residential we can keep our property taxes stable for our residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I chaired the Manalapan Transportation Committee and helped develop the goals of the committee. For the Heritage Committee and Manalapan Arts Council I was responsible for getting shared services from the County for radios lights and generators plus I was the lead obtaining other equipment necessary to handle the large crowd at Manalapan day. I also Chaired the Economic Development Council in the period following Shop Manalapan. My work in the Social Security Administration was analytical, and that also prepared me for the required responsibilities as Township Committeeman. We have a Cable Franchise renewal that must be completed this year. I was designated to represent Manalapan at the public hearing concerning our providers issues with servicing NJ. We will try to improve this agreement to better service the customers in our town.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

We answer to the people.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Although there is a state and national partisan divide, Municipal government service focuses and provides service to the residents. The issues that divide the nation are not present at the local level and our aim is to continue to maintain Manalapan as a great place to live and raise a family. We have challenges ahead to recover from the pandemic. These challenges are greater than those the town encountered during Superstorm Sandy and we will recover, always ensuring our residents receive the services they expect and deserve.