Long history of all Democratic council continues in East Windsor
By: Marisa Maldonado
EAST WINDSOR The township’s long history of an all-Democratic council will continue after the re-election of three incumbent candidates this week.
Unofficially, Perry Shapiro received 3,809 votes, Alan Rosenberg earned 3,732 votes and Hector Duke received 3,711 votes (including absentee ballots) in Tuesday’s election. The incumbents campaigned on their experience with the council, preserving open space and farmland and balancing preservation with commercial development.
Republican challenger Shari Benson got 2,443 votes while running mates Marc Pollack and David Bock earned 2,321 and 2,320 votes respectively.
About 48 percent of the township’s 13,649 registered voters 6,509 people cast ballots in the election. The Democrats held a 2,710-to-1,597 edge in registration, while the majority 9,267 was undeclared and there were 66 registered Independents.
Mr. Shapiro, who was elected to a fifth four-year term, said he was pleased with margin of victory. He said he hopes to continue working to preserve more open space and farmland and looks forward to continuing his partnership with the other council members.
"None of us are big egoed," Mr. Shapiro said Wednesday. "I like them all very much. That should help a lot."
Mr. Shapiro added that a council full of experienced members only will help them accomplish their goals, an opinion with which Mr. Rosenberg concurred.
The Republicans viewed the all-Democratic council as a disadvantage to the township during the campaign, saying they would add fresh voices to the governing body.
Ms. Benson, who also ran for a seat on the council in 2003, said she wishes the voters would have given newcomers a chance. But she said she was happy she and her colleagues received more votes than in her previous bid for election.
"We got about 40 percent of the township," said Ms. Benson, who alone received 8 percent of the vote in 2003.
Mr. Rosenberg, who was elected to a second term, said acquiring open space and keeping taxes low are his main priorities, and he found while campaigning that many of his fellow residents agree.
"They share our concerns we live here, too," Mr. Rosenberg said. "It’s nice to know we have a track record they approve of and they want us to continue doing it."
After being "the new kid" during his first term, Mr. Rosenberg said he is unable to predict what will happen in the next four years. But he said he plans to remain as attentive as possible to the issues and listen to his fellow council members.
"Luckily I’ve got great people who I can watch and learn from and get help from," he said.
Mr. Duke will start his third term in January. Neither he nor Mr. Bock and Mr. Pollack could be reached for comment.
Despite the loss, Ms. Benson said she mostly received a warm welcome as she campaigned door to door. Many residents, she said, expressed concern about this year’s 10-percent tax increase in the township and the all-Democratic makeup of the council.
Only one resident, who said he would not vote for any Republican as long as President George W. Bush is in office, flat-out said he would not support her.
I said, ‘But you don’t know me,’" Ms. Benson said. "He said, ‘Doesn’t matter.’"
Ms. Benson said she might run for council in the future. In the meantime she will continue to stay involved in the community through her service on East Windsor Rescue Squad No. 2, Beth El Synagogue and volunteering in her children’s schools.
"You can’t get rid of me," she said. "I’m not going anywhere."

