Fire Elections—Will Anyone Show?

This weekend are the fire commission elections to vote on budgets for each of the four fire districts in the township—but is unclear whether anyone will actually vote.

The fire commission elections have historically very low attendance, with often only a little more than 100 people voting in each fire district—and the question is whether residents actually know it is going on.

Township administrator James Naples said the township is not required to send information to residents about the fire elections themselves, but that it does so as a courtesy.

“We wanted to put as much information on the website as we could to help residents,” he said. “We don’t get a lot of questions about it, but we believe it is important, and as much information as we can get out to help people we do.”

The administration has already posted information on its website about the individual commissions, but Naples said they have not anticipated sending an email to those subscribing to the township’s newsletter.

“But we may send one as it gets closer to the end of the week,” he said.

Resident Barry Walker said he believes the majority of residents don’t know that there are fire elections coming up this weekend. But, he said, it is something they should all be aware of.

“As a resident of Bridgewater, my taxes have gone up 50 percent and I am receiving less,” he said. “It is time for fiscal accountability in government.”

Walker said he even contacted Gov. Chris Christie’s office to request that the governor call residents out to vote in the elections.

“His call in 2010 to vote ‘No’ on the school board budgets generated a 100 percent increase in the normal voter turnout in the [] elections,” he said.

In his email to the governor, Walker said he believes the fire election process needs to be changed because it does not allow a fair process for the public to have a vote, particularly with them being held over President’s Day weekend.

“The fire elections get less than half of a percent of the registered voters to the polls,” he said in his email to the governor. “That is an atrocious turnout for the American democratic process. The fire elections are one of the few opportunities that the general public has the privilege to vote on the budget, which has direct effect on property taxes.”

Instead, Walker said, the elections should be held at the same time as the general elections to bring out more voters.

So, Bridgewater, what do you think? Are residents aware enough of the fire elections?

Take our poll, and tell us what you think in the comments!