BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ – While Brick Republicans are out using the demoralizing state of New Jersey and national affairs under Governor Phil Murphy and President Joe Biden, Brick Township Mayor Lisa Crate feels local issues are what’s more important in a local election.
“When I’m knocking on doors, having one-on-one conversations, and when federal or national politics comes up, the first question I ask is what is going on in Brick,” Crate said according to an interview with the New Jersey Globe. “Is your garbage getting picked up, are the streets clean, are the police responding?”
When it comes to state and national politics, those are things beyond the control and scope of the job as mayor.
Brick has a vibrant economy thanks to programs implemented by former Democrat Mayor John Ducey. Storefronts are being leased and new businesses are investing in the community. The economy of Brick Township is faring better than most surrounding towns and is more promising than the national economy.
Her opponent, Republican Assemblyman John Catalano is content with a platform based on ‘stopping the Democrat agenda’.
This week, Crate broke from her Democrat counterparts after criticizing Governor Phil Murphy’s policy that seeks to keep parents in the dark about important life choices their children are making in public schools. Crate, an educator and NJEA leader said the governor’s policy goes against the foundation of the parent-teacher-student relationship most teachers value.
For Catalano and his running mates, the days of simply shouting “Trump Won”, “Let’s Go Brandon” and “Lock Her Up” are long. The voters of Brick didn’t buy into the political rhetoric at the height of the Trump presidency, electing a Democrat Mayor and council consistently throughout the presidencies of Trump and Barack Obama.
Catalano’s team has also been hyperfocused on the ongoing parental rights debate, but with his opponent in agreement, it takes a major platform issue off the table. They are also railing on the link between offshore windfarms and whale deaths. While an important topic, Crate says local issues are more important.
She dismissed the partisan political rhetoric as being unimportant on the ground for residents in Brick.
“Brick has been successful – not because we’re Democrats – because you have a group of people who come together and say what can we do for this town and make it better,” Crate said.
In recent elections in Brick, quality of life locally has taken precedence over national politics and partisan discourse, and Crate is hoping that in November, that trend will continue and voters will filter out partisan politics and focus on the issues that immediately impact the town.