East Windsor GOP seeking candidates

The township’s Republican Municipal Committee wants people to run for four council seats up this year.

By: David Pescatore
   EAST WINDSOR — The Republican Municipal Committee is looking for candidates to run for East Windsor Township Council, although it is likely to be an uphill run.
   "It is a long road to haul," said Linda Romersa, member of the East Windsor Township Republican Municipal Committee. "This town is two-thirds Democratic, but we did fairly well last time."
   The last time Republicans sat on the council was 1997, when James Garner, Michael Lev, and Anna Lustenberg served the township. The last Republican majority occurred in 1995.
   Four seats, carrying four-year terms, will be available in 2003, those belonging to Mayor Janice S. Mironov, Deputy Mayor Marc Lippman, Walter T. Daniels and Marsha Weinstein. The Democrats currently hold a monopoly in the seven-member town council. The incumbents have not declared whether they will seek re-election.
   Republican Municipal Committee Chairman Al Grupper said that even though Republicans may make up a minority of the population, "the township needs to have representation of differing opinions."
   "It is not a question of agreeing or not, everyone needs a voice on the council," Mr. Grupper added.
   Fellow Republican committee member Nick DiDia said the town is ready to "get some new faces." He attacked the current council, especially Mayor Mironov.
   "The mayor said she never raised the (municipal tax rate). The Republicans never raised it either. They are reaping money from all the new homes, but she said (increased sources of revenue were) only from new businesses. She’s building a personal war chest," Mr. DiDia said.
   Mayor Mironov responded by saying that "the first year following the Republican administration, 1996, the council inherited a $400,000 deficit."
   "Our administration has a record that we are proud of," the mayor continued. "That includes not raising the municipal tax rate, our efforts in open space and farmland preservation, the new senior center that was funded almost entirely with grants and public donations," and various roadway projects.
   She added that the voters would have a chance to judge the current administrators on Election Day, Nov. 5.
   "We eagerly await that," Mayor Mironov said.
   Mr. DiDia said that although the municipal use tax rate was stable, "the school tax continues to go up. (The mayor) should donate money to the schools, give back to the people."
   Mayor Mironov suggested that Mr. DiDia should direct concerns about the way schools are funded to the state.
   Ms. Romersa said that a Republican candidate would have to be "extraordinary to be elected in East Windsor, but there may just be one woman who could do it if she puts the effort into campaigning."
   The committee declined to name the potential candidate before she agrees to run.
   Mr. Grupper said that "this is a time reminiscent of 30 years ago, when Twin Rivers was built. There are a lot of new people in the area with a lot of new ideas. The question becomes whether everyone is complacent in East Windsor. If they are not, more people will get involved."
   Potential candidates interested in running for town council should contact Nick DiDia at 443-6431 within the next two weeks. The deadline for submitting a nominating petition to the township is April 7.