Endorsements in Cranbury, Jamesburg and Monroe

EDITORIAL

By:
   This week, The Cranbury Press issues its endorsements for Township Committee in Cranbury, Borough Council in Jamesburg and the three ward seats on the Monroe Township Council.
   Our endorsement process began in August when we mailed invitations to the candidates offering them the opportunity to sit down with us and discuss the issues facing each community. We also explained that candidates who declined an interview or could not make themselves available to meet with us would not be eligible for an endorsement. We offered eight days on which we would be available, but told candidates who we talked with that we could make other dates available if need be.
   Nine candidates accepted our invitation; one, Monroe Republican Steve Williams, did not respond to our letter or several telephone calls.
   We had no contact with Mr. Williams until the Oct. 16 candidate’s night in Monroe, which was covered by Staff Writer Leon Tovey. Mr. Williams agreed to meet with Mr. Tovey the next day, but could not commit to a time and we were not able to arrange a meeting between the candidate and the editors. As such, Mr. Williams was not considered for an endorsement.
   The Press is endorsing:
   — Wayne Wittman, Republican, for Cranbury Township Committee;
   — Otto Kostbar and Carlos Morales, Democrats, for Jamesburg Borough Council;
   — and Henry Miller and Gerald Tamburro, Democrats, and Carlos Lopez, Republican, for Monroe Township Council.
   Our reasons follow:
Cranbury

Wayne Wittman
   Both candidates seeking the lone seat available on the Township Committee bring a lot to the table.
   Democrat Angie Manley-Cook has worked with the PTO, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society and the Municipal Alliance; Republican Wayne Wittman served on the Township Committee for six years and has worked with the Boy Scouts. Both understand the issues and both have an idea of how they would go about maintaining what Cranbury residents believe to be important.
   Both favored the recent changes to the township’s historic preservation code, which now give it a little more flexibility in determining what should be preserved and how. Both want to see the committee continue preserving open space.
   We believe both candidates would make fine members of the committee. In the end, however, we are giving our nod to Mr. Wittman because we believe there is a need for balance on what is now an all-Democrat committee. While committee members have not necessarily voted in lockstep on every issue, there tends to be a sameness to the way in which each member of the committee looks at issues. Mr. Wittman can provide a perspective that is lacking now.
Jamesburg

Otto Kostbar, Carlos Morales
   Otto Kostbar and Carlos Morales deserve to be rewarded for a job well done. That’s why we are endorsing them for new three-year terms on the Borough Council.
   Mr. Kostbar and Mr. Morales understand the borough’s limits. Jamesburg’s tax base is stagnant, but there is a growing need for services, which means that the council has a responsibility to be creative when it comes to its budgets.
   Mr. Kostbar, who is seeking his third term, wants to redevelop the John Street area with offices that not only would generate tax revenue but business for local stores. And he would like to encourage the conversion of some properties into age-restricted housing, which would bring in tax dollars without increasing enrollment in borough schools.
   Mr. Morales, seeking his second term, is an advocate of long-term planning. He says the council needs to prioritize its needs and then plan as if it will not be receiving state aid. This will make sure that the most important expenses are covered.
   Former Councilman Adam Bushman, the lone Republican running, is a solid candidate but lacks the energy that Mr. Kostbar and Mr. Morales bring to the table this year.
Monroe: Ward One

Henry Miller
   Henry Miller is seeking his fifth four-year term representing Ward One on the Township Council. In his 16 years on the council, he has proven to be one of its more knowledgeable and focused members. He is running unopposed.
Monroe: Ward Two

Gerald Tamburro
   Gerald Tamburro, who is seeking his second term on the council, did not win our endorsement by default. He deserves another four years.
   Mr. Tamburro, who is being challenged by Republican Steve Williams, has done an admirable job in dealing with Comcast, the township’s cable company, during the current negotiations over a new franchise agreement — negotiations that, under state and federal law, make it difficult for local municipalities to wrest any concessions from cable companies. He has been fighting to improve service and add local channels and has been receptive to the concerns raised by Monroe residents.
   He is realistic about development and has worked to preserve open space (he was an early proponent of increasing the open space preservation tax).
Monroe: Ward Three

Carlos Lopez
   Joanne Connolly has done a solid job in her 12 years on the council. In the past, this has been good enough.
   But given the issues facing the township, in particular those surrounding the development of Route 33 and a proposed minor-league baseball stadium, Ms. Connolly should not be allowed to ride on her laurels.
   The council is in need of fresh blood, in particular someone with an independent streak who can stand up to the majority and ask the questions that the Democrats may be unwilling or unable to ask. That’s why we are endorsing Carlos Lopez.
   Mr. Lopez already has shown himself willing to break with positions taken by his own party in the past, evidenced by his vocal support of the proposal to build a new high school in Thompson Park.
   During his campaign, he has raised what we believe are important questions about the current Route 33 plan, questions that are not being asked by the council or the task force appointed by the mayor.
   Not everything Mr. Lopez proposes is worth pursuing. His call for a referendum asking voters if a moratorium on residential building should be put in place ignores that such a moratorium is not allowed under state law.
   But it shows that he is looking for novel ways to make changes and preserve Monroe’s quality of life and that he is not afraid to challenge the status quo — which is why we think he would be a welcome addition to the council.