Robert Arace
For Mayor of Manchester Township
&
Joe Hankins
For Council of Manchester Township
Manchester deserves a fresh perspective and a Mayor and a Councilman who are willing to listen to the residents from all around the community. Our team is running to represent you in town hall and to move Manchester forward.
"With great schools, Pinelands, and close proximity to amenities in surrounding towns, Manchester boasts a unique lifestyle that our community has come to love."
"Our parents are looking for Manchester to be a great place to raise their kids. We need to make sure we maintain a community that helps our kids remain active and grow."
Rob and Joe
on the Issues
Prevent Over Development
Manchester Township is a hidden gem in Ocean County - a town where young families can grow and seniors can enjoy retirement. It’s quiet, the traffic levels are manageable and I want to keep it that way. But when it comes to amenities, our neighbors spend their money in surrounding towns instead of here in Manchester. As Mayor, I would implement a responsible, business-focused economic plan designed to enhance the quality of life for our residents while filling already-vacant storefronts. I want to focus on providing the necessary incentives to attract new businesses and support our current businesses by creating an Economic Development Commission to help stabilize taxes and bring more amenities to our town.
Fight for our Veterans
Not only does our town have one of the highest Veteran populations in the county, but a joint base within our township, as well. For those reasons alone, Manchester should be host to a VA outpatient clinic to provide the necessary care to our veterans. As Mayor, I will fight for our veterans and work with Congressman Chris Smith to ensure that our veterans are cared for properly and locally.
Enhance Tax Payer Services
As Mayor, I would look to enhance our bulk trash and leaf pickup schedules. These services are not happening frequently enough or they are happening too late in the season. I will address the frequency of these services to ensure that our streets are clear, especially during the fall season. Additionally, I will look into the feasibility and cost of providing trash removal for all our residents while keeping taxes stable.
Senior Services
Our senior residents deserve a community that supports them in their retirement. One way we can do this is by developing a “Mr. Fixit'' program that partners with local handymen in town to help provide basic, around-the-house services to our seniors. Additionally, our Senior Services Department should provide grocery shopping services by creating a network of volunteers in town to help care for our disabled seniors.
Young Families/Youth
Our residents are always looking for more amenities for our young families and the youth in our community. As Mayor, I would look to bring more activities to our town such as building a skate park and an ice rink, and developing programs by partnering with Manchester-based horse farms to start horseback riding teams and bringing a 4-H club to Whiting.
Flooding and Drainage Issues
Manchester has conducted many studies on the flooding issues in Pine Lake Park and we still know only one thing - flooding persists. This is an issue our residents have faced for decades and has partially been the result of building on undersized lots. However, as your Mayor, I will make it a priority to resolve the flooding issues in our town and will request proposals from engineering firms across the state to resolve this issue in the most effective way possible.
Heritage Minerals Development
The heritage minerals project is not a good fit for our town - it would cause an unnecessary strain on our school system and infrastructure, and disrupt the Manchester lifestyle. I will continue to oppose this project until a proposal comes forward that provides a net benefit to our town while maintaining our way of life.