LOWER TOWNSHIP – Erik Simonsen, who resigned his 2nd Ward Township Council seat last year, plans to run for mayor in 2012, joined by Mayor Mike Beck’s former running mate Kevin Lare.

They said they will focus on keeping taxes low, improving public safety and expanding recreation for young people.
Simonsen resigned his council seat when he moved out of Ward 2.
Announcing their plans in press release Thursday afternoon, Lare and Simonsen took aim at Beck, although they did not mention him by name.
“Under the current administration, our Township has lost focus on the things that matter,” Simonsen said. “We think the people of Lower Township need new leadership and are fed up with the unruliness and disorderly way in which our township meetings are conducted.”
He said the meetings have become a laughing stock and have given the township a black eye.
“Erik is right,” said Lare in the prepared statement. “It is time to break the cycle of cynicism that has been brought to our township. It is time to focus on what is great about Lower Township and to bring people together to make it an even better place. I look forward to going directly to the voters with the Simonsen-Lare positive message of keeping taxes low while making our streets safer and enhancing our recreational programs and facilities.” 
Beck and Lare ran together in 2008, winning as independents in a three-way race that included a Democratic and Republican ticket. Lare, now a Republican, has criticized Beck at meetings, and Beck recently criticized Lare after the Republican County Freeholder Board gave him a part-time job in the county purchasing department.
Usually, the two at-large seats in township government, the mayor and the deputy mayor, would be the only township seats up this year, but the 2nd Ward seat Simonsen vacated will also be up for election.
The Township Republican organization named former Mayor Walt Craig to fill that seat this year.