He will fill out the remaining four months of Ali Henkel’s term.
By: Steve Rauscher
MONTGOMERY The Township Committee unanimously appointed former state deputy attorney general and current Township Committee candidate Mark Caliguire to fill the remaining four months of departed Committeewoman Ali Henkel’s term Thursday night.
"He’s got good connections," Committeeman Don Matthews said before the committee’s vote. "He’s not only intelligent, but he’s a really nice guy. I think the public can relate to him."
Mr. Caliguire was chosen over the other two Republican Township Committee candidates, Planning Board member Fred Gladstone and Trenton School District Assistant Superintendent Paul Kadri.
Mr. Matthews said he chose to support Mr. Caliguire because he had agreed to run for a one-year term filling the seat vacated by Jim Irish in January and currently held by Democrat Louise Wilson. Messrs. Gladstone and Kadri are running for the usual three-year terms to replace Ms. Henkel and Peter Treichler, who is not running for re-election.
Because Mr. Caliguire was willing to take the shorter term which means he will face re-election in November 2002 if he wins this year Mr. Matthews said he thought Mr. Caliguire "deserved a shot."
Mr. Matthews added, "He stuck his neck out. He’s done a lot for this town."
Mr. Caliguire has lived in Montgomery for four years and is the coach of local soccer and baseball programs.
He served as deputy attorney general under Gov. Thomas Kean and is currently the president of ANW Crestwood Inc., a specialty paper company.
"He’s a little bit of a newcomer," Mayor Sondra Moylan said. "I think he’ll bring a fresh perspective that would be nice."
Mayor Moylan said she and her fellow Republicans agonized over the decision, which, while it will provide a boost for Mr. Caliguire’s campaign, could be construed as a rebuff to Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Kadri.
"The sad part was that we had to pick one," she said. "Any of the three candidates is totally qualified. I’d rather have let the voters decide."
Mayor Moylan said she based her decision on the fact that Mr. Gladstone’s wife is expecting a child in the fall and Mr. Kadri is completing his doctorate. Mr. Caliguire, she said, had the most time before the election to give to the committee.
"Based on the issues we had to examine, it seemed like the logical choice would be Mark," she said.
Ms. Henkel resigned Aug. 16 to move with her family to Manchester, Vt.

