Meet Mike Morris, Running For Middletown Township Committee
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Two people are running for one seat on the Middletown Township Committee this November.
Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, a Republican, will ask voters to re-elect him, and he is challenged by Mike Morris, a Democrat. A Democrat has not been elected to the Middletown Township Committee since 2011, when Sean Byrnes won a seat on the Township Committee.
Morris is a longtime resident of Middletown, and he also writes the MiddletownMike news and opinion blog.
This is Morris' first time running for Middletown Township Committee. However, he has long been active in local politics. Both he and Perry are county committee members for their respective parties: Perry is a Monmouth County Republican Committee member, and Morris is a Monmouth County Democratic Committee member.
Patch asked Morris the following questions, and we will ask Perry to respond next week:
Give a brief bio on yourself. Age, education, occupation.
I've lived and raised my family in Middletown for 34 years. I've stood up for working-class taxpayers, special-needs families, affordability and transparency in government. Since 2008 my watchdog blog "MiddletownMike" has kept residents informed about township policies, issues and events. I am a proud graduate of Brookdale Community College and have worked in the chemical industry for 30 years.
Why are you running?
Middletown's government lacks a clear vision for our town's future. They rely on outdated strip malls and large developments without a strategy for organic growth. We need better commuting options, including walkability, bike lanes and transit connectivity. But, instead of addressing traffic congestion, the Township Committee keeps building car-dependent communities.
Growth is inevitable, but how we manage it defines our future. We can't grow sustainably without attracting new residents and businesses. Unfortunately, Middletown has an affordability problem: Young professionals, working-class families and seniors are being priced out. There are no more affordable housing options for those that wish to stay in our community.
The annual reassessment of Township property values has driven massive tax increases for the average homeowner. According to Middletown's CFO, the average property assessment has risen 47 percent over the past five years. That's great if you're about to sell your home. If not, the tax increases associated with it will put you into the poorhouse!
Despite higher taxes, we're getting less value. Brush and leaf collection has been reduced, storm clean-up is lacking, our roads and sidewalks are in terrible condition. We can do better! We must commit to fixing our broken streets and sidewalks to promote and restore our walkable neighborhoods.
Can you pinpoint any failures on the Middletown Township Committee in the past few years — specifically point to things you would have done differently? What do you see are mistakes they've made in running the Township?
Over the years its been the perception that the Township Committee is more interested in maintaining the status quo than actually leading. Instead of looking forward to the future and embracing the changing world around us, its members look to the antiquated past of days gone by. Instead of living in the 21st century, they look back to the last century and yearn for the days of the 1950s. They are reactionary as opposed to visionary.
As stated already, I believe Middletown has an affordability problem. There are little to no affordable housing options for those that wish to stay in our community; young professionals, working-class families and seniors are being priced out of our community. Since backing out of its COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) responsibilities, the Township has been in the pockets of the developers, continuing to approve massive townhouse and condominium complexes that maximize builder profits over community needs under the threat of "builders' remedy" lawsuits. These townhouses and condos often cost upward of $800K per unit, which leave many young families nowhere in our community to establish roots of their own.
Instead of building townhouse and condos, I would like to see new rental complexes and senior communities built along with affordable single-family homes in well-kept new neighborhoods.
If elected, what would you do differently, and how?
My job as a member of the Township Committee, for the first year at least, would be that of a watchdog. To ensure discussions happening behind closed doors actually take place out in the open for the public to be made aware of. All the people of Middletown, not just Republicans, deserve to have their voices heard by the Township Committee to ensure a clear vision for a safe, sustainable future.
What's the best part of living in Middletown, and what's the worst?
Even though Middletown is the largest municipality in Monmouth County with over 67,000 residents, it projects a small-town vibe. Families are active in local events and it's a great place if you value community involvement.
Middletown's proximity to the hustle of New York City and the calm of the Jersey Shore is extraordinary. You can commute to the city in about an hour or hit the local beaches in under 20 minutes. From the hiking trails of Hartshorne Woods to the waterfront views of Bayshore Waterfront Park, Middletown offers plenty of green space. You can have that relaxing nature escape without traveling far. The historic nature of Middletown is also amazing, having celebrated its 350th birthday a few years ago and now is getting ready to celebrate our country's 250th birthday.
While Middletown has a lot going for it, affordability is a real concern. The cost of housing and property taxes keep increasing while services diminish. In recent years, locals have been frustrated by over-development which has led to more traffic, and the once-quiet parts of town are becoming more crowded.
The election will be Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at Croydon Hall (in the Assembly Hall), at 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo NJ 07737, from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary, according to the state of NJ Division of Elections . And there is also mail-in voting.
