Sides disagree on success of Dems’ one-party control

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — The Repub-lican candidates for three seats on the Township Council emphasized during the Oct. 17 debate that they believe current council members work too much in lock-step with Democratic Mayor William Neary.

Their Democratic opponents, on the other hand, say that dissent on the governing body is alive and well.

During the debate, which was televised on EBTV, Republicans — whose party has not had a voice on the council since 1998 — all repeatedly made the assertion that the mayor and council have moved away from their roles as representatives of the people, and that the election of Republicans is needed in order to bring East Brunswick greater democracy.

"I believe in an open government of the people, by the people and for the people," said Republican candidate Christi Calvano in her opening remarks. "Yes, this may sound a bit idealistic, but after looking at the state of our world, I believe we need some idealism."

"I believe it’s time to have balance on our council," she said. "When only one party is represented, the people suffer. We need a bipartisan government so that everyone wins.

"We need leaders who will promote open government that are really listening to the residents. Our residents deserve leaders who will ask questions and find answers, so that the concerns of all the people are heard and addressed," she said.

Robert Tagliente, another Republican contender, said the current all-Democratic council has not questioned the mayor hard enough on his ideas.

"For the past five years, the mayor has gotten everything he wants on every proposal," he said.

"One party rule, in this case, has meant one thought, one voice," said Anthony Riccobono, a Republican candidate and former councilman. "As long as that occurs, people will never be truly represented."

In response to a question regarding one-party rule in the township, Riccobono said that the concept can work. He harkened back to the mid-1990s when he was part of a Republican controlled governing body.

"There were differences of opinion; people’s voices mattered," he said. "Meetings lasted for hours because they were for real."

"What you see now is a lock-step," Riccobono added. "The chess club meeting doesn’t end in an hour, but the council meeting does."

The Democrats disputed his claims.

"I can’t remember the last time we were out of a council meeting within an hour," responded Democratic contender Catherine Diem.

There has been a lot of "respectful, healthy debate" among council members, she said.

"And when I’m on council, there will be even more," she said.

Democratic candidate David Stahl said the current mayor and council do, in fact, listen to the citizens and have, for example, improved various roads in response to residents’ complaints. Among those roads are Rues Lane, Civic Center Drive and Fern Road.

People also asked that Ryders Lane not be widened.

"And it’s not being widened," he said.

In their closing statements, the Republicans again criticized Neary’s power.

"The council members are supposed to stand up to the mayor," Tagliente said. "The mayor proposes, the council disposes. It is the council’s duty to stand up to the mayor, not to do what the mayor says. The mayor is not the coach."

"If there’s a percentage of people out there that don’t feel that their voice is being heard, and that what they think matters, then we have a problem in our town," Calvano said.

Diem said it will be her responsibility to listen to the residents.

"First and foremost, it’s the job of an elected official to listen to the people, and equally important to hear what the people are saying and act upon what they’re saying," she said.

"We have live, healthy debate at the council meetings. You see it every Monday night, amongst the council and with the residents," said Council Vice President Saul Fink, who is running for re-election on the Democratic ticket with Stahl and Diem.