Two people are running for mayor, and three for two spots on Alpha Borough Council.
There are two people running for one four-year term as mayor in Alpha, and three running for two three-year terms on Alpha Borough Council.
Here's why they're running, in their own words. A star denotes an incumbent.
MORE: See Warren County's contested races
Mayor
Craig Dunwell (R)
Craig Dunwell (File photo courtesy Louis Cartabona)Age: 52
Personal and political background: I grew up in Alpha, and after working and living outside the area for almost 20 years, returned in 2004 to live and raise a family. I have a chemical engineering degree and have been involved in process engineering, project management and general management. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine where I met my wife, Luda. We have one son.
I have always been interested in Alpha politics, even if only from afar at times. I ran for council in 2010 because I believed we were on the wrong track with yearly tax increases and a plan to build an unnecessary $2.3 million water treatment plant. While serving on council from 2011 to 2013, we implemented a strategic plan to refurbish our existing water treatment plant, saving ratepayers $1 million in the process, and improving fire protection and operational efficiency of our water and sewer infrastructure. We also re-negotiated our shared service police contract, saving another $1 million. We implemented a $2.5 million road improvement program, without a tax increase, by taking almost $300,000 of costs out of the budget. The result of all our efforts is that Alpha has not had a tax increase in four years, while investing in important infrastructure, including a new $500,000 fire truck, while maintaining our surplus at historically high levels.
Key issues: Looking forward, we need to roll back the outrageous water rate increase implemented late last year. Some residents have seen their water bills double and even triple. I ran the utility for 2 years. I know the issues and the numbers better than anyone else in Alpha, and we can pay for these badly needed improvements without an increase of this magnitude.
We need to finish much-needed water infrastructure improvements that have largely been on hold since I left council two years ago.
We need to focus on quality of life issues for our residents, such as keeping our neighborhoods clean and tidy.
We need to finally resolve the pool issue without endangering our ability to acquire open space, which will help hold down taxes for future generations of Alpha's residents.
Millard Rooks (D)
Millard RooksAge: 46
Personal and political background:
- 21 years as the assistant superintendent of Warren County's Department of Weights & Measures.
- Currently first vice president of the New Jersey Weights & Measures Association.
- Two years as an Alpha borough councilman.
- Lifetime resident of Alpha.
Key issues: Capitol improvements such as street repairs, completion of the water and sewer project. Repairs and upgrades to the park and recreation areas of Alpha Borough.
Council
Louis Cartabona (R)*
Louis Cartabona (Photo courtesy Louis Cartabona) Age: 54
Personal and political background: Married. Resident of Alpha for 10 years. Previously lived in Phillipsburg, Lopatcong AND Harmony Township. I had two year college studies on Environmental Science and Criminal Justice. I'm self employed in Mechanical Contracting, Plumbing and Heating. I previous ran a Contracting Corporation with a dozen employees and worked in all phases of Construction. I spent time doing missionary work during the 1980's and I am active in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Phillipsburg. I am a trustee of the Phillipsburg Riverview Organization and have been engaged in environmental issues all my life.
I became interested in Libertarian politics in 1980 and studied the principles of our founding fathers and constitutional law.
I first attended Alpha Council meetings about 9 years ago. The councilmen and mayor didn't seem to address the residents' concerns. Not only were some of the governing body's actions unreasonable, but they were constantly kicking the can down the road.
More recently, when a company was going to build an asphalt plant in our industrial park, I started informing my neighbors about this and became a community activist. As people started to get to know me they encouraged me to get on Council.
The voters of Alpha elected me in 2012 and I took my oath of office in January 2013.
My first goal on council was to prevent any municipal tax increases, which we have accomplished all three years, as had been done just before I was on council.
Until recently, the former council had failed to accomplish this, whereas Alpha was seeing yearly increases to the point that Alpha has one of the highest municipal tax rates in Warren County.
I keep on trying to get my fellow council members to find ways we can do more with what we have without raising taxes.
My second goal was to help the fire department replace an outdated fire pumper. Although there were some hiccups in the purchase I am proud to have helped supply the borough a new pumper with modern technologies in safety and fire suppression for the men and women professional firefighters who volunteer to protect life and property in Alpha.
Key issues: I have been providing the best service I can, but the majority of the current council and mayor have been on the other side of many of the issues I support. In the last two years things seem to be going backwards.
We still have a website that is not working well and one of the things we need to fix is we need to become much better at communicating with our residents.
The progress that was started on the water, sewer and roads infrastructure has slowed and serious momentum was lost and we need to get these jobs done more quickly. We need long range planning too.
The current majority on council are still ignoring the will of the voters from the November 2013 public question regarding the John Dolak Memorial Pool, and the 800-signature petition which a group of us collected from Alpha residents last May.
This lack of political will amongst my colleagues is hard to understand especially when the American Legion offered $100,000 in operating costs if we fix the pool and place it back in operation. Hopefully we can then see a revitalized Alpha pool next year.
I opposed the recent rate increases on the water and sewer billing. I realized that the rate increase was too much too soon and I had offered an alternate plan that would have been been easier on the ratepayer. My plan was rejected but I have hope that if re-elected with other Republicans on this year's ballot, we can have a rate reduction that more realistically represents the needs of our water and sewer departments.
I want to see the FEMA grant come through for installing an emergency generator for our firehouse, which also serves as a Red Cross shelter in case of emergencies.
Mostly my main issue is listening to my neighbors and working to represent them in making our town great again!
John 'Jack' Preiss (R)
John 'Jack' Preiss (Courtesy photo)Age: 51
Personal and political background: I have lived in Alpha with my wife and 3 children since 1998. I've loved living in Alpha, but I do feel there's been a gradual decline in the governance of our town and our sense of community.
In 2015 I instituted Alpha's first-ever soccer program and we currently have 30 children from town playing on the Dolak field!
Key issues: Leadership starts with our town council. In recent years there has been little regard for the children and older residents if Alpha. Places where kids can play and where people can gather together have been allowed to degrade or been closed down.
Kathleen Ronan (D)
Could not be reached.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
