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 3-23 Halfacre for Congress Fundraiser Join State Senator Jennifer Beck in Red Bank to support Mike 3-26 GOP Candidate's Night Meet the Monmouth County Candidates 6-8 Primary Day Vote for Mike Halfacre in the Primary!    District 12 Details about Mike's district Friends Links to related websites |
 Michael Ian Halfacre - Biography 
Michael I. Halfacre was sworn in as Fair Haven's Mayor on January 1, 2007. Upon taking office, Mike immediately started working to carry out his campaign promises of reducing debt, streamlining government, and lowering taxes. In his first year, Mike hired a new Administrator, new Borough Clerk, new DPW Supervisor, and consolidated the position of Borough Engineer with DPW Supervisor, which resulted in savings of well over $100,000.00. Emphasizing a need for fiscal responsibility, he hired a new CMFO and moved to sell off unused property, using the proceeds to pay off a portion of the Borough’s debt burden. Entering into a shared service with neighboring Rumson Borough allowed Fair Haven to close its Construction Office, and instituting merit pay among non-union employees increased productivity and further reduced costs. These moves in 2007 allowed Fair Haven to reduce property taxes for the first time in memory in 2008. Fair Haven was able to reduce property taxes despite losing $140,000.00 in funding under Governor Corzine's budget for fiscal 2008-2009.  In 2009, Fair Haven lost another $24,000.00 in funding under Corzine’s fiscal 2009-2010 budget. Despite this loss, and New Jersey’s staggering economy, Halfacre reduced taxes yet again, becoming one of the few municipalities in New Jersey to lower property taxes two years in a row. In 2008, Fair Haven participated in one of the State's first shared services study focusing on police departments. While this study was not enough to convince the participating municipalities to go forward with a full merger, it did lay the groundwork for Fair Haven entering into a shared services agreement with neighboring Little Silver Borough for police and emergency services dispatching. This move could save Fair Haven taxpayers more than $100,000.00 per year, and required standing up to the police union, who adamantly opposed the shared service. Also in 2008, Mike kept a campaign promise to increase recreational opportunities in town by hiring a full time Recreation Director, who increased programs for children and seniors. The salary of the full time position is being paid by the program fees of the new programs, and not by taxpayers. Mike also outsourced the care and maintenance of the athletic fields and parks, improving the condition of the facilities while saving the Borough money, and avoiding the hiring of replacements for departing DPW employees.  While running for Mayor, Mike recognized that Fair Haven’s debt burden was too high, and in 2007 he moved to sell off a piece of property that was of no use to the Borough. The money from the sale was used to pay down over $1,000,000.00 in long-term debt, and in 2009 Standard and Poor’s rated Fair Have AA+, their second highest Bond rating. Mike has also brought improvements to the Borough’s website, making government more user-friendly and transparent; purchased hybrid vehicles for DPW and the Police Department, and advocated strongly at the State level for improvements in the way the State of New Jersey allocates municipal and school aid. Prior to becoming Mayor, Mike served Fair Haven as a member of the Board of Education, a member of the Borough Council, as Municipal Prosecutor, and for ten years as the School Board Attorney. He has also served on the Boards of the Fair Haven Community Appeal, the Fair Haven Education Foundation, and Fair Haven Parents for Parks. He is an Affiliate Member of the Fair Haven Fire Company. 
Outside his community, Mike serves on the Gala Steering Committee of the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, and is honored and humbled to serve on the Board of Directors of the Dennis W. Zilinski, II Foundation. www.runwithdennis.org (Lt. Zilinski was killed in action in Bayji, Iraq on November 19, 2005. The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund was created and founded by a group of very close friends of Dennis’ to honor his memory and spirit for life.)Professionally, Mike is an attorney with a solo practice concentrated in real estate work. Mike has served as a Trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services, as well as a Trustee of the Monmouth Bar Association. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Monmouth Bar Foundation. 
Mike has a B.S. in Political Science from Florida State University, where he was a Co-Captain of the Varsity Swim Team, and a Law Degree from The University of Dayton. He was admitted to practice law in New Jersey in 1991. Mike is married to Tricia, and has three children, Ellie, Matthew and Marshall. In his spare time, he competes in Triathlons, and is an avid swimmer, cyclist and runner. He has completed seven Ironman Triathlons (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). As the finisher of seven Ironman Triathlons, Mike has the fortitude to make a difference in Washington DC. |
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