Bitter battles mark election

Mudslinging and calls for reform are among the highlights of the most heated elections in this area in recent years.

By: Mae Rhine
   Tuesday’s elections have shaped up to be some of the most heated in recent years.
   In Lambertville, a write-in GOP candidate has been vocal about a push for reform on the all-Democratic City Council.
   In West Amwell, a former township clerk is going head to head against a member of the Environmental Commission. Each claim they want to preserve the rural nature of the township, but they are sharply divided in their methods.
   Across the Delaware River, nine candidates are vying for seven seats on the New Hope-Solebury School Board of Directors, four of them under the banner of Kids First.
   In Solebury, the Board of Supervisors wants permission to spend another $18 million on preservation. The township has spent nearly $24 million so far toward its ultimate goal of preserving roughly half of its acreage.
   In New Hope, things are more pleasant with each mayoral candidate praising the other’s dedication and commitment and both refusing to resort to any mudslinging.
   The only place things seem downright peaceful, however, is in tiny Stockton where Democrat Neal Esposito, a longtime member of the Borough Council, and Republican Constance Bassett are unopposed for re-election to the two three-year terms available.
   In neighboring Lambertville, everything was quiet until the primary. Longtime Councilman John McManus and incumbent Councilwoman Cynthia Ege had no opposition for re-election to their three-year seats.
   Then Marcus Rayner, a district director for Congressman Michael Ferguson (R-7th), received 11 write-in votes for the Republican nomination, three more than was needed. He decided to accept.
   But he wasn’t about to run quietly. Since he accepted the GOP nod, he has been vocal in his criticism of the existing one-party City Council, calling for reform in all areas, even down to council meeting minutes.
   There was an outcry among Mr. Rayner and his supporters when Mr. McManus, citing personal reasons, decided to withdraw from the race, meeting the deadline of pulling out at least 51 days before the election.
   That allowed the Hunterdon County Democratic Organization, of which city Mayor David Del Vecchio is head, to choose another candidate. The group unanimously chose Ron Pittore, an attorney and son of former Mayor Philip Pittore, who served when the city’s government was a three-man city commission.
   Mr. Rayner called the ballot switch a ploy on the party of city Democrats to substitute a "stronger candidate" for one who had become "a liability." Mr. Rayner often criticized Mr. McManus for his frequent absences from City Council meetings.
   When withdrawing, Mr. McManus said his workload as manager of retail information systems for Amerada Hess Corp. had been keeping him "incredibly busy" since December, and he felt he was "not really pulling my weight."
   Mr. Rayner claims he wants to reform city government "to increase openness, accountability and citizen participation."
   He also said he would hold the line on taxes and spending and preserve Lambertville’s historic character by limiting development and strengthening design standards.
   He sent a mailing, the "Rayner Reform Agenda," a plan that calls for publishing documents on a new city Web site, including agendas and minutes of meetings, existing ordinances and drafts of proposed ordinances as well as council members’ voting records; sending a free e-mail to interested residents of all meeting notices and agendas; having council meetings twice a month instead of once; and eliminating the practice of appointing council members and "political party bosses" to the Lambertville Sewerage Authority.
   Mr. Rayner, 31, also 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.
   Mr. Pittore and Mrs. Ege both have many years of municipal government experience.
   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 major issues are property taxes, maintenance of infrastructure and residential and commercial planning.
   He felt "good management" would help with property taxes, but he thinks municipal representatives should lobby legislative leaders to review and, perhaps, change the reliance on property taxes to fund public schools.
   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 being on the council is about "taking care of the people."
   She said she has worked "long and hard" to that end and is proud of the work the council has completed.
   She said the major areas she would like addressed or continue to be addressed include the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee, the Stormwater Management Committee, the flood plain, taxes and the restoration of City Hall.
   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.
   Things have been nearly as vocal in West Amwell where former clerk Betty Jane Hunt, 62. is facing off against Environment Commission Chairman Ron Shappella, 51.
   Ms. Hunt defeated longtime Councilwoman and former Mayor Nance Palladino in the primary.
   Once that tough and often bitter battle was over, Ms. Hunt thought she would face no opposition as no Democrats had filed for the one three-year seat available.
   But, again, a write-in candidate, Mr. Shapella, arose to receive enough votes to grab the Democratic nomination.
   Ms. Hunt claims the top three issues in the township are property taxes, planning and administration. Mr. Shapella named his top three issues as planning, removing a proposed sewer service area and taxes.
   Ms. Hunt said she wants to preserve land without taking away residents’ property rights," which she said she thinks is the case with a recently passed stream corridor ordinance supported by Mr. Shapella.
   She would do this with the township’s Open Space Program, concentrating on properties most at risk. And she wants more education than regulations.
   She said residents are "good stewards" of the land and its resources and don’t want "more laws to strangle us; we have enough state and federal regulations."
   Ms. Hunt received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Trenton State College and was certified as a registered municipal clerk at Rutgers University.
   Before serving as clerk for 26 years, she worked six years as deputy clerk. Her experience also includes serving as secretary of the Board of Adjustment and the Board of Health. She also was a Planning Board member, fair housing director, registrar of vital statistics and a member of the Country Fair Committee and the Local Assistance Board.
   She is president of the West Amwell Fire Company Auxiliary, secretary of the Old Rocks Church, secretary of the West Amwell Cemetery Association and leader of the Mt. Airy 4-H Dairy Club.
   She also is a member of the Hunterdon County Agriculture Fair Committee and a member of the county and state dairy princess committees.
   Mr. Shappella and other supporters of the stream corridor ordinance have denied the law is "a taking of land."
   He said these corridors are unspoiled natural areas "that are part of what we all love about living here." In addition, he said, these corridors protect streams by expanding buffers, especially for future subdivisions.
   The buffer was increased by 25 feet for all existing occupied residential properties and undeveloped properties of 6 acres or less. Undeveloped properties of more than 6 acres would be subject to a buffer of 100 feet, and subdivisions would be subject to a 150-foot buffer.
   Mr. Shapella is a public relations consultant who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Glassboro State College.
   He previously served on the Township Committee by appointment — June to December 2004 — when Peter Buchsbaum resigned. He is a member of the Stormwater Committee, the Community Forestry Committee and the Recycling Committee. He previously served on the Planning Board.
   Going back across the Delaware River, the field has narrowed somewhat in the race for seven seats on the New Hope-Solebury Board of Directors.
   Four four-year seats are available with five candidates battling for them. Four other candidates want the three other available seats for terms of two years each.
   The largest block of candidates banded together under the banner of Kids First. It had six members, but one lost in the primary, and another dropped out.
   That leaves Amanda Elefante, Maggie Depp, William Behre and Megan O’Brien.
   The other candidates are Christine Flynn, the board’s incumbent vice president; David Dozbaba, who has served on the board for the past 12 months by appointment; incumbent Sean J. Hopkins; educator and retired principal Laurence Fieber; and financial analyst Chris Nally.
   Mr. Dozbaba, 43, is a Republican running for one of the four-year terms. His rivals are Ms. Flynn, Mr. Behre, Ms. O’Brien and Ms. Elefante.
   He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Drake University and is employed in sales management. He serves on the board’s student activities and facilities committees. His community service includes coaching youth sports, leading a Cub Scout den and serving on the administrative council of his church.
   He said he favors land preservation as a means for reducing the need for more schools and infrastructure.
   He also is open to adding a full-day kindergarten program, which was rejected by the board although some parents pushed for it. But he wants the board to make sure the benefits outweigh the cost.
   Ms. Flynn, 51, is a homemaker who holds a master’s degree in education. She has worked with the Five-County Easter Seal Society for 10 years and served on the school board for four years.
   Previously she served on a number of district committees, including policy, facilities, strategic plan, home and school association, parent teacher group and hiring committees. Ms. Flynn also is director of Christian education at Morrisville United Methodist Church.
   She said she believes the top issues facing the district are facilities, the federal No Child Left Behind law and tax reform.
   She wants the second round of renovations at the lower elementary school completed, then she wants the board to look at a small renovation and expansion at the high school level.
   She said the district also needs to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, continue to improve its students’ test scores and reach adequate yearly progress.
   Mr. Behre, 40, is a college professor and administrator who formerly taught middle school. He has been involved in education for almost 20 years.
   He holds a doctorate in education from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in special education from Hunter College and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vassar College.
   His community service activities include being a volunteer coach for soccer, softball and basketball and a member of the district’s Special Education Strategic Plan Committee. He also has served as a lunchtime recess volunteer.
   He is concerned about the cost of having two elementary schools, saying he’s not sure that will yield better education results.
   He also is calling for more communication between the district and parents.
   Ms. O’Brien, 45, is a middle school counselor who formerly served as a school board director in Chicago. She has been an educator for more than 20 years.
   She received a bachelor’s degree in communication and theater arts and English language and literature with a secondary educational certificate in both majors from Eastern Michigan University. She also holds a master’s in counseling psychology from Concordia University and a master’s in educational counseling from Immaculata University. She performed post graduate work in classical theater at the London Academy of Performing Arts.
   She has been a Girl Scout troop leader for seven years and is a member of the NOVA Crisis Counseling team for the state of Pennsylvania. She volunteers weekly at the New Hope-Solebury Library.
   Ms. O’Brien also wants more communication and would like to see an advisory board established in each school to get information regarding the concerns of parents, teachers, students, union members and taxpayers.
   She also wants to make sure the district uses all the resources it has within the district and the community.
   Ms. Elefante, 38, holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Penn State University. Currently a stay-at-home mother, she formerly was employed by General Electric as a telecommunications engineer.
   Her community service includes membership on the district’s facilities and policy committees and as a parent volunteer with the Home and School Association. She said she regularly attends board meetings. She also is a prospective member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
   She said she believes the district must reach every child, provide a quality education at an affordable price and create a more welcoming atmosphere for parents and community members.
   Mr. Nally is running as a Republican for one of the two-year terms. He was chosen by the Republican committee to run for a seat vacated by Diane Eler in May.
   David Hahn was appointed to hold the seat until the election, and now Mr. Nally was chosen by the Republican Committee to try to win it Nov. 8.
   Also running for two-year terms are Mr. Fieber, Ms. Depp and Mr. Hopkins.
   Mr. Nally, 41, is a financial analyst who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rider College. His community service includes serving as the head coach of New Hope-Solebury Little League T-Ball, working as a volunteer on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s first mayoral campaign, volunteering for the Stony Brook Watershed Association, a nonprofit organization in Hopewell Township and coaching basketball at the YMCA.
   He thinks the three most important issues facing the district are providing high-quality education, fiscal management and commitment to the community and its concerns.
   Mr. Hopkins, 45 is a health-care economist who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Joseph’s University. The incumbent school board director is chairman of the Student Activity Committee.
   His community service includes coaching youth soccer and baseball. He also serves on the local Parks and Recreation Five Year Plan Advisory Committee.
   He is proud of the board passing a budget that carries only a 1 percent tax increase for this year. He also points to high SAT scores.
   Mr. Fieber, 55, has 32 years of experience as a principal and teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He has been named National Principal of the Year and New Jersey Principal of the Year. He attended Harvard’s Principals’ Center, Teachers’ College at Columbia University, SUNY at Albany and Alfred University.
   He said the top issues facing the district include providing taxpayers with an "excellent return on resources" by holding staff and students accountable for achieving high academic and social standards; improving communication between the school and the community; and hiring a new superintendent after Dr. Barbara Burke-Stevenson’s retirement at the end of the 2006-07 school year.
   Ms. Depp, 47, is a retired post anesthesia care unit nurse, a homemaker, wife and mother. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Villanova University.
   She has served as a volunteer with the Home School Association and led a Girl Scout Troop from 2000 to 2004. Previously, she also volunteered as a girls fourth-grade soccer coach and assistant girls basketball coach.
   She also wants a communications committee composed of teachers, parents, community members and board members.
   In nearby New Hope, there’s no mudslinging going on in the mayoral race, and the two candidates, Democrat Elaine Daniels and incumbent Republican Mayor Laurence Keller, are keeping it that way.
   They praise each other’s hard work and dedication, and Ms. Daniels said she decided to run only to give voters another choice.
   She calls Mr. Keller "a wonderful mayor." Mr. Keller said he, too, holds her in the highest regard.
   She wants to see improved communication with officials and residents.
   Ms. Daniels, 70, is a ceramic artist. She sits on the board of Bucks Villa, a group residence for people with HIV/AIDS.
   She also serves on the borough’s Revitalization Committee and New Hope Arts Inc. and is a member of the New Hope Historical Society and Partners in Progress.
   Still taking college classes, she describes herself as "a constant student." She attended the University of Michigan and the University of Miami, graduating with a major in philosophy and a minor in art.
   Mayor Keller, 50, is an antiques dealer who is wrapping up his second four-year term in office. He is a graduate of Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa., and Lehigh University, where he majored in accounting.
   He is a member of the New Hope Historical Society and New Hope Arts Inc. His community service also includes membership in the New Hope Eagle Fire Company and the Philips Mill Art Association.
   He said the top issues facing the borough are the completion of the $6 million public works project, and negotiations that would allow the town to finish the construction of a walking path on the west side of the Delaware Canal from the New Hope Ivyland Railroad to the borough parking lot adjacent to Hardy Bush Way.
   Four Democratic candidates are running uncontested for four seats on the Borough Council. They are incumbent Vice President Sharyn S. Keiser, Claire E. Shaw and incumbent councilmen Randall C. Flager and Edward A. Duffy.
   In Solebury, voters will be asked to OK spending another $18 million to preserve 2,000 acres of open space.
   More than a quarter of the township’s 17,900 acres has been preserved already, and officials eventually want to preserve roughly half of the township’s acreage. Since 1996, voters have given their approval to three previous referendums by an overwhelming majority of about 90 percent, giving the go-ahead to spend a total of $24 million.
   That brought about a total open space tax rate of 6.15 mills, which, on a property assessed at $100,000, translates to $615 a year.
   No figures were available from officials on what the $18 million would mean as far as additional taxes because the money would be borrowed as the township needs it.
   Also, GOP candidate Michael Kennerley is running uncontested for a six-year term on the Board of Supervisors. No Democrats filed for the seat being vacated by Republican William Tinsman, who decided not to seek re-election.
   Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in New Jersey. In Lambertville, voters in the 1st and 2nd Wards will cast their ballots at the YMAC on Wilson Street. Those in the 3rd Ward will vote at the Columbia firehouse on Union Street.
   West Amwell, voting takes place at the municipal building at 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road.
   In Pennsylvania, voting is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Hope voters go to the Eagle Fire Company on Sugan Road. In Solebury, those living in the upper portion of the township vote at Carversville Christian Church at 3736 Aquetong Road. Those in the middle section vote at Solebury School. Those in the lower portion cast their ballots at Thompson Presbyterian Church at 1680 Aquetong Road.