New mayor to be picked

New year means new goals and new mayor for Cranbury.

By: Jessica Beym
   While Township Committee members are not sure who will be mayor in 2006, they say they are sure of what next year’s agenda will be.
   Committee members say they will focus on farmland preservation, fiscal responsibility and the township revaluation.
   During the first meeting of the new year, the township will reorganize its responsibilities, elect a mayor for the year and swear in a new member. The meeting will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
   During the meeting, Republican Wayne Wittman will be sworn in for a three-year term on the currently all-Democratic committee.
   Mr. Wittman, who won the seat over his opponent Democrat Angela Cook by nine votes, served two terms on the committee from 1993 to 1999 and was mayor in his last year until he lost his seat to Democrat Greg Overstreet.
   Democrat Becky Beauregard, who served as mayor this year, chose not to seek re-election after serving her three-year term.
   The five-member committee will elect one of its members to serve a one-year term as mayor. The mayor will be one of five votes on the committee, run committee meetings as chairperson and will serve as a member of the Planning Board.
   Mr. Stannard, who was mayor in 2004, said he was not comfortable disclosing any information from conversations with other committee members, but added that he would not be interested in taking on the role of mayor in 2006.
   "It’s a question of who wants it and who is going to get it," said Mr. Stannard.
   Even though the Democrats will hold the majority in 2006, Mr. Stannard said, the new mayor could be from either party.
   "In Cranbury, you’ll find that our issues don’t deal with party politics," said Mr. Stannard.
   Mr. Stannard said the committee members look for leadership, communication and organizational skills when voting on the mayor.
   "If you’re ahead or out in front on an important issue, that may drive the vote," said Mr. Stannard.
   Mr. Stannard said the committee will focus on farmland preservation next year.
   "There are some remaining parcels that we’re looking at the we still need to secure," said Mr. Stannard.
   Mr. Stannard said the committee will be focusing on fiscal responsibility as it prepares for the budget.
   "We plan to determine ways to be sure we are spending the township funds appropriately," said Mr. Stannard, who added that the committee will focus on township projects in addition to farmland preservation.