By:
ýcc18;þThe future
of Cranbury seems to be on
firm ground. Its tax base has
increased over the past years,
resulting in three years of flat
taxes and, most recently, a
4-cent decrease in
2000.
Community involvement is
high, the Cranbury School is
among the finest elementary
schools around and township
pride is
high.
It
’s popular to say that if some
thing isn’t broke, then don’t
fix it.
&nbs
p;However, if the Cranbury
of the future is to be as good
a place to live as it is now,
then work must start now.
Leaders with experience, and
who are willing to come up
with new ideas, maybe even
buck the status quo, will be
needed to guide Cranbury to
ward that futur
e.
Each
of the candidates — incum
bent Republicans Alan Dan
ser and Art Hasselbach and
Democrats Pari Stave and
Richard Stannard — have a
lot to of
fer.
But
we believe Mayor Danser,
with his 20-plus years of ex
perience, and Ms. Stave, with
her willingness to question
long-standing policy, are the
leaders Cranbury
needs.
&nb
sp;Our endorsement of May
or Danser and Ms. Stave
should in no way take away
from what Mr. Stannard may
have to offer or from what
Mr. Hasselbach has accom
plished. As a former member
of the Planning Board and a
four-year veteran of the com
mittee, Mr. Hasselbach has
had a hand in steering Cran
bury toward a bright future.
Mr. Stannard has a great deal
of knowledge about what has
worked for Cranbu
ry.
But
Mr. Danser, the current may
or, and Ms. Stave are strong
er candida
tes.
Mr.
Danser is seeking his eighth
three-year term on the Town
ship Committee. During that
time, he has served as mayor
for 12 years and has been at
the forefront of key township
policy. He has been among
the biggest supporters of
farmland preservation, was
involved in master plans that
called for commercial devel
opment east of Route 130
and, by supporting the reno
vation of the Old School, has
shown he knows the impor
tance of preserving the
town’s historic
flavor.
In addition, he has shown he
is willing to work with fellow
committee members, despite
the differences that invariably
crop
up.
Ms.
Stave is a newcomer to gov
ernment, but that weakness
also could be a strength. She
is willing to ask tough ques
tion about the township’s in
dustrial zone, questions that
may put her at odds with a
majority of her potential col
leagues, to ensure that the
township does not over build
and turn what has been a pos
itive into a truck-filled nega
ti
ve.
She
also knows the financial good
times may not last forever.
She wants the township to
closely monitor its spending,
to justify every dollar that
goes out. At the same time,
she knows the importance of
programs that have become
hallmarks of the town — his
toric and farmland preserva
tion.
Cr
anbury’s future will be in
good hands if entrusted to
Mr. Danser and Ms. Stave.
