TUF has already drawn some fire for claiming to be non-partisan yet choosing only Republican candidates for Township Council. Our reasons are simple, TUF believes that these are the best people for the job and in order to control spending you need a majority on the Council. It is these candidates that are devoted to controlling spending. They all must get in for that to happen. If they don't TUF fears NOTHING will change. If a Democratic candidate was pushing for change instead of walking in lock step with their leader, TUF would support her or him.

Endorsements at a glance

TUF Mayoral Endorsement
Brian D. Levine (R).

TUF Township Council Endorsements
Chip Hoever (R).
Karen Ferguson (R).
Robert Mettler (R).

TUF State Assembly Endorsements

Endorsement Details

TUF endorses Brian D. Levine (R) for Mayor.
TUF considers 6 year Councilman Levine's credentials to be precisely are what needed to lead Franklin out of this period of out-of-control spending. He's a certified public accountant and financial planner. He has been the Director of Planning for a Fortune 500 Firm and was on the Board of Trustees of The United Way. On the Council podium he expresses outrage about the excessive spending that lead to the precipitous rise in taxes that Franklin currently experiences under a Democratically control Council. His campaign literature indicates that he was responsible for the Township hiring a grant writer that has secured million of dollars of outside funding. TUF has found him to be a man of integrity ready to make tuff choices despite the political consequences. His statement that most impressed TUF was "Some times they [Council members] seem to forget that it's real money". Learn more at his web site.
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TUF endorses Chip Hoever (R) for Township Council.
I'm sure that frequent visitors to beTUF.org with be shocked to learn that TUF has decided to endorses its own founder Chip "TUF guy" Hoever for Township Council. All kidding aside Chip's devotion to holding the line on spending has turned Franklin politics on it's ear and lead the tax-and-spend Deputy Mayor/Principal/Mayoral Candidate Bill Grippo to label Chip as a zealot for controlling taxes. In a letter to the heads of the special interests that Mr. Grippo has helped fund, Mr. Grippo urged the recipients of his funding to oppose Chip in exchange for his continued support! Prior to TUF those unhappy with out-of-control spending could do little except brood about taxes. After Chip Hoever created TUF individual taxpayers realized they had a means of uniting in their common cause. On September 9th, 2003 the Township meeting usually attended by less than 30 people was visited by an estimated 500. While clearly all were not supporters of Chip, he managed to coordinate our anger to send the Council a message that we are tired of spiraling taxes. Taxes are a part of modern society. Even Chip can't prevent them from making modest increases over time but who more than a zealot can be trusted to ensure that every cent of Franklin's budget counts.

Chip has started two successful businesses from scratch. He knows the importance of spending within ones means and how to eliminate waste. He has experience as a community leader and problem solver. TUF proudly Endorses Chip Hoever for Township Council. You can learn more about Chip on his web site (broken link). Back to top

TUF endorses Karen Ferguson (R) for Township Council.
Councilwoman Ferguson has a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Management from Cornell University and Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from North Carolina University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, the Franklin Township Housing Authority Commission and the Somerset County Office on Aging Advisory Council. All of these arm her with the skills needed to be a successful Council member. TUF believes her own web page describes her best. Back to top

TUF endorses Robert Mettler (R) for Township Council. Few could have more reason to dedicate themselves providing the best for Franklin than Robert Mettler. Not only is he a life long resident of Franklin, his family's origin in the Township predates the revolutionary war. His life long study of the history the area provides him with a perspective on its people, problems and solutions few can match. His style on the Council is straight forward and no holds barred when he thinks his constituency is being jeopardized. A former Mayor of East Millstone he has been on the Township Council since East Millstone incorporated into Franklin. He is proud of his support for both open space and the Library renovation/expansion but works hard to hold down costs. He is not shy the hold other Council member feet to the fire so that they do the same
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TUF endorses Catherine Barrier (R) for State Assembly.
Councilwoman Barrier has worked tirelessly to hold down spending in the Township. We are very sorry to loss her from that position. Back to top

TUF endorses Upendra Chivukula (D) for State Assembly
While TUF does not agree with Councilman Chivukula's pattern of spending in the Township, we do applaud Assemblyman Chivukula's co-sponsoring of A-540, a bill in the assembly that calls for a New Jersey Constitutional Convention on Taxes. It could lead to a change in the tax system that will not cut taxes but will at least distribute the burden more fairly. Back to top

TUF can no longer endorse this candidate due to his strong opposition to a meaningful Pay To Play ordinance as Township Councilman. His lack of a commitment to campaign financing legislation that had the potential of holding down taxes leads us to withdraw our endorsement.

© 2003 - Taxpayers United in Franklin