HEALTH OF WATERWAYS 10TH DISTRICT THEME

Sen. Ciesla Faces Dem Councilwoman and a Libertarian

NEPTUNE -- As state Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla, R-Ocean, prepares to defend
his seat in November, he and his Democratic challenger are making the
environment and the health of local waterways central themes of the
election.

In a meeting Wednesday with the Asbury Park Press editorial board,
Ciesla, a 54-year-old Brick resident who has represented the 10th
District for approximately 16 years, touted his support of increasing
developmental buffers for the Metedeconk River, cracking down on waste
dumping from vessels and increasing pumping stations around the
Barnegat Bay.

The meeting was also attended by the senator's challengers,
36-year-old Lavallette Councilwoman Britta Forsberg Wenzel, a
Democrat, and Toms River resident Jim Miller, 55, an independent
running as a Libertarian.

Ciesla said one of his main goals if re-elected would be to try to
focus development into revitalized urban centers, which have access to
extensive mass transportation networks, a pattern the senator said
will ease congestion and be more environmentally friendly than
suburban sprawl.

"We have now, I think, a (resurgence) of people wanting to go back
into the urban-type, rail villages," he said. Ciesla said he would
encourage more affordable housing in those areas to attract more of
the population.

Ciesla also said he would work to continue to fight corruption in the
state. He said the Legislature needs to "over-compensate" in enacting
laws such as pay-to-play legislation to combat a problem he said is
pervasive and widespread.

"It is so bad. It really is so bad that it's embarrassing to be a
state legislator," Ciesla said.

Wenzel also said her main focus would be the environment. Like Ciesla,
she said she favors extending developmental buffers around the Toms
River and opposes relicensing the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating
Station in Lacey.

But she said she faulted the senator for not doing enough to protect
local waterways, which she said have continued to deteriorate.

"The collapse of the fisheries, both commercial and recreational, has
a tremendous effect . . . on every aspect of our local economy,"
Wenzel said.

In addition, the councilwoman, who is now in her second term, said she
would make corruption a focus. And though she said she wasn't implying
any abuses on the part of the sitting senator, Wenzel said she
believes the Legislature needs new people to help change the atmosphere.

"Hardworking people are upset because they feel they put in a long
day, they want to pay taxes, but corruption affects us at all levels,"
Wenzel said.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Wenzel's platform is a proposal to
make all public beaches in the state free. The councilwoman said the
state would take over maintenance of the beaches, but argued that
eliminating beach fees would boost tourism, leading to more dollars in
the local economy and ultimately more money in tax revenue.

Ciesla rejected the idea, arguing the state taking over beach
maintenance would simply create more fiscal stress.

Miller, the Libertarian candidate, made headlines several years ago
with his fight to legalize medical marijuana, a cause he took up on
behalf of his late wife, Cheryl, who suffered from multiple sclerosis.
He said he is in the process of writing a book about the last years of
her life.

Miller said he would make an effort to bring Republicans and Democrats
together in office. A self-employed carpenter, he said he continues to
fight for medical marijuana, and would make improving health care in
general a primary goal.

"If you don't have your health, you can't enjoy the bay. You can't
take part in mass transportation. You can't take part in pretty much
anything," he said.

In addition to promoting environmental reform and fighting corruption,
Ciesla said another goal will be addressing the state's financial
situation, which he described as dangerous. He said he wants to look
for ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste, as well as alleviate
taxes.

"I believe there's a meteor out there called "financial Armageddon,'
and it's headed for the state of New Jersey, and we don't have Bruce
Willis out there," Ciesla said.