Dems: An ear for the people and an eye on open space

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Dems: An ear for the people
and an eye on open space
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer


David StahlDavid Stahl

EAST BRUNSWICK — The three Democrats running for Township Council say they want to continue the good work being done by the current governing body.

The Democratic ticket includes incumbent council Vice President Saul Fink and newcomers David Stahl and Catherine Diem, who are seeking to fill the seats of fellow Democrats Meryle Asaro and Jeffrey Simon.

The three Democrats credit the current all-Democrat governing body with making East Brunswick a better place to live.

The election — the first for East Brunswick in two years — will determine the landscape of township politics as the control of the council is at stake.


Catherine DiemCatherine Diem

Fink, 40, has served on the council since 1998 and has lived in the township for about eight years. He is employed as a director of research and development for Bristol-Myers Squibb and lives with his wife Tracey, and two children, Brandon, 9, and Adam, 5.

Fink said he has no hidden agenda and that what you see from him "is what you get."

When asked about the most pressing needs in the township, he mentioned a need to slow development.

Fink, co-chairman of the township’s open space commission, said he wants to continue the "smart growth" policies the township began five years ago. He said the township should seek to preserve more open space, but refrain from making land purchases unless approved by voters through referendums.


Saul FinkSaul Fink

"We’ll continue to look for open space to reduce the impact [of development] on the town and the infrastructure," he said.

Saying East Brunswick needs more places for recreation, he suggested the possibility of using some of the already purchased open space for passive forms of recreation, such as walking paths.

He also said he would continue to try and limit residential development because it puts a strain on the school system and property taxes. He said he believes it is important to seek more business ratables to benefit the township.

Another priority of Fink’s is enabling senior citizens to continue living in the township. Senior housing communities are needed to provide older residents with a place to move within East Brunswick, he said. He noted that age-restricted communities do not cost the township as much in services as other residential developments do.

Fink said he wants to continue making the types of infrastructure improvements the council has made over the last several years, and to keep municipal taxes down.

However, he believes the council needs to remain vigilant on issues it believes in.

"I firmly believe in the things we did in the last four years," he said. "I stand by my record, but in no way should we rest on our laurels."

Though not directly involved in East Brunswick politics before now, David Stahl is well-known to residents as the head of the township’s popular soccer league. He has argued that he should not be dismissed as a one-issue candidate, though, as recreation is only one of his concerns.

Stahl, 46, the owner of B&N Hardware in New York City, has lived in the township since 1980. He has a wife, Sandi, and three children, Naomi, 12; Zachary, 11; and Shoshana, 4.

"The most important thing to me is preserving the quality of life in East Brunswick," he said. "Everyone leads an incredibly hectic schedule, and it’s important that the quality-of-life issues are retained."

He mentioned continuing the township’s open space program as a way of controlling development. He also noted the need to continue with road improvement programs and with the renovation of parks.

In addition, Stahl said he wants to maintain the township’s economic well-being.

"Being a small businessman, I understand the importance of being fiscally responsible," he said.

While continuing with an open space program is one priority, Stahl said the council must also keep in touch with the views of residents regarding potential purchases and needs.

"As a councilman, you are working for the wishes of the population," he said.

Stahl said he wants to continue the efforts made by the current mayor and council with regard to creating new parks and renovating existing ones. He said it is important that officials meet with the people who live near those areas to get their feelings on the park projects.

"I’d like to continue to search for additional recreation areas in the township [while] being fiscally responsible at the same time," he said.

Stahl also praised the municipality’s financial operations, saying its bond rating is very good.

"When you have the ability to borrow at low rates, that allows you, as a township, to work on those quality-of-life issues," he said.

Catherine Diem, 39, is known by many parents of East Brunswick students as a member of the Lawrence Brook School PTA. Diem volunteers in the township serving on the Raritan Valley YMCA’s board of directors and the board for the Village Recreation and Swim Club.

Diem, who is employed as a corporate events planner, has lived in the township for nine years with her husband, Wayne Kaplan, and two children, Will, 9, and Matthew, 5.

"I think that people with a strong background of community service make good leaders," she said. "To be a successful volunteer, you have to be able to work with lots of people with different ideas."

She said she enjoys working with people and that people like working with her.

"I think it’s important that we find innovative solutions to our challenges," she said. "It doesn’t always have to come back to the taxpayer. We need to build upon the volunteers we have."

Diem said that individual neighborhoods in the township each have their own issues that are important to them, and it is important the council hears their voices.

She said she has longtime roots in the township because her mother grew up on a farm here.

"[My roots] help me relate to all the different groups," she said.