Democratic candidates, who are seeking their third term together, contend that their track record speaks for itself, and that they have been focused on creating a government that better meets the needs of taxpayers and families.

"Democratic leadership has made this county a better place to live and we still have some work to do," said Scanlon, a Union resident employed as a paralegal specializing in family law.

Democrats have held all nine seats on the freeholder board for the past six years. When the current trio won in 1997, they defeated the last Republicans to serve on the board: Henry Kurz, Frank Lehr and Ed Force.

Freeholders, considered part-time positions, serve three-year terms and earn annual salaries of $27,000, with the chairman and vice chairman earning $28,000 and $29,000, respectively.

Republican candidates charge that one-party government does not benefit Union County residents.

"Because there's only one political party on the freeholder board, there's no check - no one's looking out for your interests," said Kline.

In Union County, there are 87,296 registered Democrats, 40,237 registered Republicans and 130,266 unaffiliated voters.

"We can't change anything until we regain control of government," said Briemer, a Westfield resident.

Mirabella, a Fanwood resident and chairman of the county's Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Board, said that under Democratic leadership the county has charted an initiative focused on economic stability and improved quality of life.

"We are building a foundation for the future and need your support to help keep the progress going," said Mirabella.
Renna said the all-Democratic board acts as a pack to benefit the party; not the people.

"The majority of spending in the county is directly tied to the Democratic Party," said Renna, a Cranford resident who works for the county in the public information office at Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights.

Scanlon said the current administration reaches out to all 21 municipalities and uses resources to improve the lives of residents.

"We have made a real positive difference in the lives of the more than 500,000 residents who live here," said Scanlon.

The strides Union County has made under Democratic leadership, Mirabella said, were not accomplished alone.
"We did it by joining hands with residents, business leaders and educators," he said. "We built a new partnership and we connected county government with the people it serves."

For the nine years that Haynes has lived in Union County, he said he has seen an increase in taxes and a reduction in services.

"I don't think that this administration of freeholders has the best interests of Union County in mind," said Haynes, a Roselle resident and supervisor for United Parcel Services.

During his campaign, Kline said, residents have told him that the number one issue on their minds is increased property taxes.

"Many senior citizens have told me that they can no longer afford to live in their homes because of rising property taxes," said Kline, an attorney who has served on the Fanwood Council since 1997. "They are being forced out of the very communities they helped to build."

Renna said the county administration has grown to unmanageable proportions.

"Mismanagement...has resulted in a tremendous amount of waste," said Renna. "The result has been double-digit tax increases for the last three years in a row."

Haynes, who has run for Roselle City Council and Board of Education in the past, said the current freeholder board can't continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.

Reilly, the Winfield GOP chairman who recently retired from working in the county's print shop for 30 years, said he would handle county business as if he was operating his own business.

"We will welcome open conversation with our 21 towns and work to address this property tax issue for residents and business in Union County," said Reilly, discussing what Republican candidates would do if elected to the freeholder board.

"This Democratic board continues to make one bad decision after another," said Kline, adding that the county has approved construction of a new police headquarters in Westfield but has not built a new juvenile detention center to relieve overcrowding at the current, outdated facility.

Holmes, a Rahway resident and former police officer who now owns a security business, said that by working with the Sheriff's Office and other officials, the county is implementing plans to better protect homes and communities in the event of an emergency or terrorist attack.

"Over the last six years as a freeholder I have worked to improve the county to make sure changes are for the better," said Holmes.

Through the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Trust Fund, the county has preserved more than 100 acres of open space.

"This freeholder board recognizes the need to protect the environment and improve recreational opportunities," said Mirabella.

Voters approved the trust fund in 2000 that established a tax of $0.15 per $100 of assessed value dedicated to open space, recreation and historic preservation purposes.

Renna said there is already funding set aside in the county's general budget dedicated to recreation.
"This is just smoke and mirrors to make another line item on our property tax bill," said Renna.