Newcomers forge 1-party town council

Democrats Constance Harinxma and Ryan Rosenberg elected to town council

By: Vic Monaco
   HIGHTSTOWN — Come January, the borough will be led by an all-Democratic council and a Republican mayor.
   And most agree they still will have a huge redevelopment project at the top of their agenda.
   Two Democratic newcomers surprised their opponents and themselves by virtue of their victory in Tuesday’s election.
   Constance Harinxma, a 45-year-old social worker, was the top vote-getter with 732 votes and running mate Ryan Rosenberg, a 29-year-old graphic designer, garnered 725. That compared to 694 votes for longtime Councilwoman Nancy Walker Laudenberger and 563 for Ron Sackowitz, who had been appointed to council in February. (Those figures are unofficial and include absentee ballots.)
   Fighting laryngitis, Ms. Harinxma addressed supporters at a party Tuesday night at the home of campaign manager and Councilman David Schneider.
   "Going into today I really didn’t know what would happen," she said. "I think this speaks to the fact that Hightstown is changing and people want some new ideas."
   Ms. Harinxma, a mother of two who has lived in the borough three years, had campaigned on a promise to make the borough more "family friendly," and specifically pointed to a need for more youth recreation programs.
   In an interview only about 15 minutes after the results were known, she said, "I’m thrilled, really. … This is a great opportunity."
   "I was surprised," admitted Mr. Rosenberg, who has lived in the borough less than three years. "Everything in the process was new to us. It’s hard to determine what made the difference. …Young people are moving into town and they want a voice that perhaps isn’t there now."
   Mr. Schneider had a very specific idea on a prime factor that contributed to the victory.
   "Our Democratic counterparts, including in the race for governor, did very strong numbers and that definitely helped our candidates," he said, adding that hard campaigning also had paid off.
   Unofficial results, including absentee ballots, show borough voters giving Republican Doug Forrester 576 votes to 747 for Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine, who was elected Tuesday night as the new governor of New Jersey.
   Ms. Walker Laudenberger shook her head while leaning against a wall in Mayor Bob Patten’s home Tuesday night, apparently stunned by the local results.
   "I am very disappointed but I worked hard and I did my best," said the 28-year borough resident who had sought her third full three-year term on council. "The dynamics of the community are changing. People like change, I suppose."
   "This was my first shot at this and I’m kind of surprised at the partisanship displayed," said Mr. Sackowitz, a 10-year borough resident who works for the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority. "It was about who’s a Democrat and who’s a Republican. It’s the whole state, not just this community."
   Democrats held a 626-432 registration edge in the borough, where there were 1,548 undeclared voters and 16 independents. Of the 2,624 registered voters, 1,352, or 51.5 percent, turned out.
   Republican Mayor Bob Patten agreed with Mr. Sackowitz and Mr. Schneider that the state numbers had a big effect on the local ones.
   "When you look at the results, they started at the top with Corzine," said the mayor. "I think it was more of the politics of the party, maybe even what has happened at the national level where there’s been the smearing of President Bush. It just reached home here."
   "I don’t think it has anything to with changing (local) demographics," he added.
   Nonetheless, Mayor Patten said he was surprised and disappointed "especially for Nancy, who has dedicated her own time and energies to the borough of Hightstown."
   The Republican mayor — who joined Ms. Walker Laudenberger in congratulating the winners in person Tuesday night — said he is not worried about working with a council comprised solely of Democrats.
   I’ve always respected the differences of opinion of any member," he said. "I’ve disagreed with Republicans and I’ve disagreed with Democrats but always in the best interest of the decision-making process."
   As far as Borough Council is concerned," Councilman Schneider said, "Republicans and Democrats have been inclined to work together. I hope we’d continue to work in the same fashion."
   For their part, Ms. Harinxma and Mr. Rosenberg said they have no plans to come to council with guns blazing.
   "You have to be a good listener at first," Mr. Rosenberg said.
   "There’s going to be a big education piece but the whole process of the campaign was an education," said Ms. Harinxma. "You don’t just come in and try to force your ideas on everybody."
   Asked if the addition of newcomers can slow the council’s progress, Mayor Patten said yes.
   "There is a learning process and as a former teacher I will reach out and … provide information and inform them about what we’ve been doing and what direction we’ve been leaning and get input from them. Their views are as valuable as the incumbents’."
   Councilman Walter Sikorski said, "Certainly things may flow more efficiently but I can’t predict that."
   Council members, new and incumbent, said they believe the proposed redevelopment of the former rug mill property, which has had its setbacks, will still be an issue come January because it is too important to rush.
   "Unless it’s a really great plan, I wouldn’t want to see them act on it now," said Ms. Harinxma.
   "It’s too complicated and has too many facets to it for a quick resolution," said Mr. Sikorski. "A $25 million project in a town this size which will have a permanent imprint on the center of town is quite different than a project in a big city where’s it’s done all the time."
   Mayor Patten agreed the borough needs to take its time.
   "I’m not rushing anything," he said. "We’ve spent two years on this project. I’m familiar with other projects in other communities and they can take four, five, 10 years."