Candidates trade barbs, charges at third and final debate
By: Molly Petrilla
WEST WINDSOR The third and final Township Council candidate debate ended in personal attacks Monday morning when incumbent Councilwoman Barbara Pfeifer severely criticized her opponent, Will Anklowitz, for his complaints about the council’s openness.
Throughout his campaign, Mr. Anklowitz has questioned some of the council’s procedures in particular its decision to hold an executive session with the Planning Board and a seven-member search committee to discuss plans for the 350-area redevelopment area in the vicinity of the Princeton Junction train station.
In an appearance before The Packet’s editorial board last week, Mr. Anklowitz said the closed session was "just wrong," adding, "I don’t see the reason to have secret meetings. It just creates suspicions."
During Monday’s debate which was held in the township’s senior center and sponsored by the West Windsor Retirees’ Group Ms. Pfeifer waited until her closing statement to respond to Mr. Anklowitz’s ongoing public accusations about the openness of West Windsor’s government.
"I want to assure everyone here today that your municipal government operates as one of the most open governments you will find anywhere," she said. "When I hear … that the West Windsor Council is … doing sinister deeds behind closed doors, I have to wonder where this thinking comes from.
"Why (are) our experiences in West Windsor so very different than the world Will lives in?" she asked. "Who among us wants to live in Will’s world? I don’t."
Ms. Pfeifer also said she and other township officials "deserve much more respect for our efforts than Mr. Anklowitz seems willing to give," and urged voters to "join me as I leave behind a world of worry Will’s world."
Though he did not have the opportunity to respond to Ms. Pfeifer at the debate, Mr. Anklowitz did offer implied criticism of his opponent in his own closing statement, saying the election is "not about Wall Street (and) … not about high finance." Ms. Pfeifer formerly worked on Wall Street and has emphasized her background in business throughout the campaign.
Though ending on a contentious note, the candidates were civil and professional throughout the debate.
Early on, when the discussion turned to the redevelopment, Mr. Anklowitz again said he is hesitant to see housing units in the train-station area, which the township is now selecting a planning firm to redesign.
But Ms. Pfeifer, who has repeatedly said the transit village needs a housing component to exist and thrive, repeated that point Monday.
Both candidates agreed they would not vote for a redevelopment plan that did not offer tax benefits to West Windsor, and both also said they were unlikely to vote against a proposal based solely on a poll of residents.
Asked what three things would make for a more open government, Mr. Anklowitz said he advocated tape recording executive sessions, going out frequently to meet with the public and televising more township meetings on Channel 27.
While Ms. Pfeifer suggested that hiring a part-time public information officer and making more information available on Channel 27 and the Internet would make township business more accessible, she added, "I don’t think West Windsor’s government is closed."
The debate also included senior citizen-oriented topics, including a question on how to deter retirees from leaving the township due to rising taxes.
Ms. Pfeifer said it is important to offer diverse housing in the community rather than convince empty-nesters to stay in their homes, but Mr. Anklowitz argued that putting in more residences doesn’t reduce taxes. Instead, he said, a citizens’ Constitutional Convention and plea to the Legislature in Trenton would be more helpful to address the township’s tax issues.
Asked how to prevent in-fighting among the council members and create a more collegial atmosphere, the candidates offered similar suggestions.
Ms. Pfeifer said the council currently "works very well together," adding that if elected she will continue to "act appropriately … and ask others to do the same."
Mr. Anklowitz emphasized the importance of "putting residents first," and said in a group such as the council, it’s important to foster discussion among members, even if that discussion involves disagreements.

