Marcus Rayner will face Democratic opponents Cynthia Ege and Ron Pittore in the Nov. 8 City Council election.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE Marcus Rayner is campaigning on a platform of reform to win one of two open City Council seats in the Nov. 8 general election and become the lone Republican amid the Democratic stronghold.
Mr. Rayner, a write-in candidate for the GOP, is running against two Democrats, incumbent Councilwoman Cynthia Ege and Ron Pittore, a son of former city mayor Phil Pittore.
Mr. Pittore was chosen unanimously by the county Democratic organization to replace longtime council member John McManus, who withdrew his name from the ballot, citing personal reasons.
Mr. Rayner wants to "reform city government to increase openness, accountability and citizen participation," he said.
Also, he would "hold the line on taxes and spending" and "preserve Lambertville’s historic character by limiting development and strengthening design standards," he said in a candidate’s questionnaire.
Mr. Rayner, 31, is the district director of the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-7). He worked in the New Jersey governor’s office from 1997-2001 and the federal Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2002.
He is a graduate of Montgomery High School in Skillman and received a bachelor’s degree in 1997 from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.
"I believe that Lambertville needs a new, independent voice on the City Council," he said. "By opening up our government to broader public participation, we can increase accountability and make people feel more invested in their government.
"My ‘Rayner Reform Agenda’ is a specific proposal, which seeks to accomplish this. With nearly a decade in state and federal government, I believe I can be that independent voice and help make our city government more responsive to the residents of Lambertville."
The "Rayner Reform Agenda" is a five-point plan that calls for publishing important documents on a new city Web site, including agendas and minutes of meetings, existing ordinances and drafts of proposed ordinances as well as the voting record of council members.
It also would include a free e-mailing to interested residents of all meeting notices and agendas; and publishing draft resolutions and ordinances with meeting agendas on the Web site.
It also calls for holding regular council meetings twice monthly instead of the current once a month "to provide greater consistency to voters and limit the number of ‘special meetings,’ which are less predictable, often held without adequate public notice and, as a result, often lack public participation."
Finally, it would "eliminate the practice of appointing City Council members and political party bosses to the Lambertville Sewerage Authority."
Mr. Pittore and Mrs. Ege have many years of municipal government experience between them.
Mr. Pittore, 59, is a member of the Planning Board and is one of the two Hunterdon County representatives to the New Jersey State Democratic Committee.
Mrs. Ege, 45, is completing her ninth year on City Council. She has served six years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and two years on the Planning Board, a year as president and another as vice president of the South Hunterdon Municipal Officers Association, plus three years as coordinator of the South Hunterdon Municipal Alliance, a year as secretary of the Lambertville Sewerage Authority and two as vice president, serving on the LSA board for a total of four years.
Mr. Pittore said in his candidate’s questionnaire, "I believe that among the major issues are property taxes, maintenance of infrastructure and residential and commercial planning. Good management will help somewhat with property taxes, but I believe municipal representatives need to lobby our legislative leaders to review and change the over reliance on property taxes that fund public schools.
"Continuing to obtain state and federal grants will help with infrastructure maintenance. Cooperation between the City Council, the Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board will foster good city planning."
Mr. Pittore earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., and a law degree from Rutgers University. He was admitted to the bar in 1972 and is the director of the legal department at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Mrs. Ege said in her candidate’s questionnaire, "In my years on council, I’ve learned being on City Council is about taking care of the people. I’ve worked long and hard on school board, Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, the sewerage authority, negotiations, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and stormwater management to ensure the voice of the people is heard.
"I’m proud of the work City Council has completed, and I ask the citizens and voters of Lambertville for their vote in the upcoming election."
Mrs. Ege outlined six major areas she would like to see addressed or continue to be addressed. These are the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee, the Stormwater Management Committee, the flood plain, taxes and the restoration of City Hall.
She said: "This is an aggressive agenda, and I vow to work hard on each one of these issues so that our community is the best that it can be while being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers."
Of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee, she said, "I want to continue to make Lambertville a safe place to walk and bike."
She said the main focus areas are "the central business district (lighting), Franklin Street, access to the elementary school and access to the hills."
She added, "Traffic and circulation has always been a concern in Lambertville. Our biggest asset is also our biggest area of concern. This quaint little community is designated as a walking town. Students walk to school, you walk to the bank, and if you live downtown, walking is your method of transportation.
"Whether you are a parent, a child or business owner, this is one of the biggest issues impacting Lambertville today. We have a plan prepared by one of the country’s top traffic engineers highlighting traffic-calming devices we can implement. This will slow traffic and make all of Lambertville accessible for the walkers and bikers.
"Under the direction of City Council, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee will work hard to make sure these devices are properly installed in the areas that are most impacted by safety issues."
She said of the Stormwater Management Committee, "Implementation of the overall plan will protect and preserve our water supply. I realize this is not a quick fix, and it will take some time to see the results, but, overall, it will ensure the water runoff emptying into the Delaware River is cleaner."
Mrs. Ege said the city should "investigate and take action on improvements to our flood plain areas that will assist with remediating the problem with flooding like flood gates, reviewing our drainage system, making the water company responsible for controlling the flood gates." She also said that Pennsylvania should be held accountable for releasing water from the dams, which impact the river towns.
Mrs. Ege also said she would "hold the line on municipal taxes."
She explained, "Health insurance increases at a rate of 25 percent (approximately) annually. In the years I’ve been on City Council, I’ve looked for alternative funding methods and am responsible for over $400,000 in grant funding. Taxes are always a concern, and we’re always trying to find ways to fund programs while being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers."
Of the restoration of City Hall, she said, "18 York St. is one of the most historic buildings in our community. We are in the process of making it ADA compliant and restoring the exterior and interior of the building. This will cost taxpayers approximately $200,000 and is offset by grants we received from the Historic Trust and DCA totaling $787,000."
Mrs. Ege, 45, is employed as the assistant to the executive director of the Newgrange School. Her education includes a two-year certification from the New Jersey Bankers Association and college courses in management and English and writing, marketing and design.
Her community service includes five years as a member of the Lambertville Public School Board of Education, two years as president and one year as vice president of the Lambertville PTA, two years as a coach in the South County Soccer League and five years as a religious education teacher at St. John the Evangelist Church.
Mrs. Ege also participated on the committee that designed the program book for the city’s sesquicentennial, volunteered as a PTA room mother and PTA fundraiser and on the city’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Committee.
She has received honors from South Hunterdon Regional High School’s Future Farmers of America and the Union firehouse.