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MARLBORO — The township is home to a resident who wants to serve his community in the U.S. Congress.
Libertarian Ken Chazotte of Marl-boro officially launched his campaign for Congress on June 27 at a Dessert with the Candidate Night event at the Lounge Cafe in Marlboro.
"If you want to make a difference you can either complain about it or get out and make a difference," Chazotte said. "For me, the best way was to get out and run for Congress."
Chazotte, 37, formally announced his bid to represent New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District on June 21. He is challenging incumbent Democratic Con-gressman Rush Holt and first-time Republican candidate Bill Spadea. The 12th District stretches across the middle of New Jersey and includes English-town, part of Freehold Township, part of Manalapan and part of Marlboro, among several other communities in Monmouth County.
"Ken’s outside-the-box thinking brings fresh ideas to the political arena," said Emerson Ellet, spokesman for the New Jersey Libertarian Party. "Voters need to hear a full range of ideas for addressing the challenges facing America, rather than just those of the Republican and Democratic candidates."
Chazotte was born in Ridgewood and lived in Paramus, Woodcliff Lake and Atlanta, Ga., before moving to Marlboro in 1999. He is an independent computer consultant and lives with his wife, Dana, and son, Jack, 3.
Chazotte said he had always followed current events, but said that after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, he really started to pay attention.
"I didn’t like what I was seeing," he said. "The biggest things I want to focus on are honesty in government, reducing taxes and reforming Social Security."
Chazotte said the thing that bothers him most is the level of government spending. He said he wants to reduce spending and make sure money is being spent on necessary programs.
Libertarians believe the answer to America’s political problems is a commitment to freedom that includes a free-market economy, a dedication to civil liberties and personal freedom, and maintaining a strong national defense while pursuing a foreign policy of non-intervention and free trade, according to a press release.
Chazotte said he wants to overhaul Social Security in a way that benefits all Americans.
"I have a 3-year-old son, and I look at all the money we put into Social Security, and I’m afraid that it won’t be there when we get ready to draw on it," he said.
He said a prime concern is that elderly citizens get taken care of.
Chazotte believes that more countries moving toward a free-market system is a good thing, but he said it is in the United States’ best interests to reduce the tax and regulatory burdens that make it attractive to send jobs overseas.
He said that he if won election, he would work to remove the influence of special interest groups from Washing-ton.
"I don’t think special interest groups would be an issue," said Chazotte. "We (Libertarians) are less likely to be approached by them."
Commenting on the Patriot Act, Chazotte said it is an important consideration and there are parts that should be repealed and parts that are valid.
The Patriot Act that was passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America empowers the federal government and law enforcement authorities in the fight against domestic terrorism. Some critics of the Patriot Act have said the law undermines many civil rights.
"I understand why we have the Patriot Act and why we need it," the candidate said, "but we need to be careful."
He said Congress should keep bringing up the Patriot Act and should vote on it at least once a year.
"It shouldn’t be one of those things we forget about and six years later ask, How did we get here?" said Chazotte.
Chazotte said there was an excellent turnout at his Dessert with the Candi-date Night event and that his speech was well-received. He said so far the campaign has been going very well and he has gotten a lot of support and positive feedback.
This is Chazotte’s first foray into politics.
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 and is the third largest political party in the United Sates. According to a press release, millions of Americans have voted for Libertarian Party candidates in past elections throughout the country.