Candidate Statement – Jonathan M. Rose – Republican

Name:  Jonathan M. Rose

Office you are running for:  Freeholder of Sussex County

Political Affiliation:  Republican

Hometown:  Sussex Borough

How long have you resided in Sussex County? If you are not a lifetime resident here please share where you lived previously:  32 years. Except for college, I’ve been a lifelong resident of Sussex County.

Tell me whatever you’d like to about yourself and your family:  Almost the entirety of my extended family lives in Sussex County.  We love this part of the country.  I came back to Sussex as soon as I graduated from college and hope to someday raise my children here, like my parents before me.

What business/career path have you worked in:  Computer Consultant – President and Managing member of Farious Net Solutions, LLC, a computer consulting firm specializing in small to medium sized business networks.

Is this your first time running for political office? If not, please list previous offices held and time periods:
1) Currently Sussex Borough Elected Mayor (2012-2015)
2) Past Sussex Borough Councilman (2004, 2006-2011)

Have you been involved with any local committees/boards/organizations? If so please name them and your position(s) held:
1) Currently Sussex Borough Elected Mayor (4 years)
2) Past Sussex Borough Councilman (7 years)
3) Past Member, Sussex/Wantage Regional School District Technology Committee
4) Past Member, Sussex Borough Board of Health
5) Past Member, Sussex Borough Planning/Zoning Board

What are the top three political issues that you are most passionate about and why?
Solar Settlement and Bailout – It appears at this time that the solar settlement is going to fail, and that the expected build-out will not materialize.  This is problematic because the settlement still indemnifies the bankers, lawyers and engineers who were involved whether it is a success or not.  We must begin an investigation into the solar debacle.  Through the use of the Freeholder Board’s subpoena powers, it must be discovered exactly how this project was allowed to happen and who was responsible.  If any criminal malfeasance is discovered, the solar settlement should be dismantled and the insurance policies of those “professionals” who sold the County the bill of goods should be pursued.

Open Government – Representative government dies behind closed doors.  It is critical that the voting public be able to hear about, research and understand the issues at play at all levels of government.  The Freeholder Board can and should implement a few simple and inexpensive changes to help foster open government such as:  1) Hold meetings after 6:00pm except in an emergency, 2) Include all supporting documentation on agendas, 3) Post agendas no later than three days prior to the meeting.  As Mayor of Sussex Borough, I have enacted a series of reforms, including some of these proposals, and I hope to bring this toolkit to the County.

Transitional Healthcare – Transitional healthcare, as it is being run by Sussex County, is a program designed to transfer the costs of providing health services from private facilities to the taxpayers.  This program, ostensibly designed to help those who have left an overnight facility to transition back to their homes, is swallowing up more resources and a larger portion of the budget every year.  This must be turned back into a private program to keep it from becoming the tail that wags the dog.

What do you think should happen overall to make life more comfortable for current residents to live in Sussex County (and if for assembly candidates, Leg Dist 24), and to retain our resident base:
The government needs to get out of the way.  Regulation and taxation is what makes housing unaffordable here, not anything wrong with our climate, geography or location.  Adding another government program to fix a problem caused by a government program makes no sense.  If we get rid of the overregulation and overtaxation, then our county would bloom in a flowering of business and housing opportunities.

If elected, what would be the first order of business you would like to tackle:
An investigation into the failed solar project and bailout must occur immediately.  I will work to get this to a vote within the first few weeks of office.

Is there anything more you’d like to share, in conclusion as a candidate not already asked above:
I am a constitutional conservative who believes in individual liberty.  I am a strong supporter of property rights and believe that the role of a politician is to create a government where the people may enjoy maximum liberty and freedom free from interference from the state. I believe that government should not pick winners and losers on the field of business or the race of life, but rather act as an impartial referee. I believe that a government that governs least governs best.

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