A belief among some that choice was made before candidates made their pitch
By: Emily Craighead
WEST WINDSOR Although Kristin Appelget’s vacant seat on the Township Council has been filled, many, including chosen candidate Barbara Pfeifer, question the process that led to her selection.
"Several of the candidates knew what was going on" at Thursday’s council meeting, candidate John Wydra said, referring to his belief Ms. Pfeifer was chosen long before candidates’ interviews were completed. "They just made their speeches and went home."
Council President Charlie Morgan, who cast the lone vote for William Anklowitz, said, "I was frustrated at my inability to deliberate for a best candidate."
Following three-minute speeches by each of the 10 candidates, council members Franc Gambatese, Linda Geevers and Heidi Kleinman outlined the qualities they sought in their chosen candidate and thanked the applicants for coming forward. All three then voted for Ms. Pfeifer, who will serve on council until the Nov. 7 election.
Mr. Morgan said he would have liked an opportunity to hear what his colleagues thought about the different candidates.
During three closed meetings last week, Mr. Morgan, Ms. Geevers and Ms. Kleinman interviewed each candidate, but did not deliberate. Mr. Gambatese, who objected to the closed meetings, interviewed the candidates on his own.
Ms. Geevers upheld the procedure’s fairness.
"Nobody was hand-picked," Ms. Geevers said. "It was a great process. People came out who were sincerely interested in filling the vacancy."
The appointee herself described the process as "going through a sausage machine," and said the first thing the council should do is define a procedure for the future.
Mr. Anklowitz, on whose behalf over a dozen Windsor Ponds residents spoke at Thursday’s meeting, was circumspect.
"I believe in public support," Mr. Anklowitz said Friday. "If the other (council members) didn’t defer to it last night, they’ll have to defer to it in November."
Mr. Anklowitz said he will let the level of public support for him guide his decision about whether to run in the November election.
Council members could have taken the opportunity to infuse new blood into West Windsor’s government, said Carol Brugger, another candidate.
"I think a shakeup would be good," she said. "It was a shame to see that what everyone told me would happen happened."
Ms. Pfeiffer possessed qualities the council sought involvement in the community, a grasp of the important issues, business experience and the willingness to speak her mind, Ms. Geevers said.
"When you have an excellent pool, you have to separate them in some way," Ms. Geevers said. "You have to make a decision."
Ms. Pfeifer serves on the township Planning Board and Ordinance Review Committee. When she is sworn in as a council member June 5, she will relinquish her position on those committees. Ms. Pfeifer also worked on Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh’s re-election campaign last year. She has not committed to running in the November election.
"To the extent I could make a difference and raise the level of integrity" on the council, Ms. Pfeifer said she plans to run in November. If she finds herself as "one more person in the middle of food fights," she said she may not run.
Only Robert Suto and Ms. Brugger ruled out running in the November election. Ms. Brugger said she would consider running for a full term in May.

