LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Nov. 3
Democracy is not a spectator sport
To the editor:
The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area would like to remind your readers to plan on voting in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Please study your sample ballots, not only for candidates, but also the three ballot questions. Your sample ballots will also tell you where to vote. If you were registered to vote but did not receive a sample ballot, you may call the Mercer County Commissioner of Registration at (609) 989-6750.
A survey of senatorial candidates and information about the ballot propositions is available on our Web site at www.princetonol.com/groups/lwv.
If you need an absentee ballot, you will have until Monday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. to obtain an absentee ballot application in person at the county clerk’s office.
The New Jersey League of Women Voters hotline is (800) 792-VOTE. Any citizen who encounters difficulty in exercising his or her right to vote can call for assistance. Information about polling places, among other things, is available on the Web site www.vote411.org.
Exercise your right to vote. Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Nancy Porter, President
Freida Gilvarg, Co-President
League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area
Philip Drive
Princeton
Cherish that moment in the voting booth
To the editor:
As we approach this upcoming election, I had planned to jump into the fray by commenting on some of the silliness of the election season and there is a lot of it. Whether it is the campaign battle between Rep. Mike Ferguson and Linda Stender (not only silly, but also less enlightening than a fourth-grade argument over who is a better super-hero, Superman or Spiderman), or with some of the more "enlightening" letters I have read in The Packet supporting one candidate or another (best summarized as "your candidate is evil for the following reasons, so vote for my candidate, who stands for none of those, but don’t ask for details"), there are plenty of easy pickings.
But considering that we are currently engaged in a war on terror, with our young men and women in harm’s way, I decided to take a pass and send out a friendly reminder.
Whoever your candidate of choice is, wherever you stand on the issues, and from wherever along the political spectrum you hail, remember that when you pull the lever on Nov. 7, you owe a debt of gratitude to all the men and women, past and present, who have put their lives in the line of fire. It is their heroism, sense of duty and commitment to the United States that allows us to spend a couple of months every few years yelling past, rather than talking to, each other.
Cherish that moment in the voting booth. It remains the second greatest act of patriotism anyone can perform second only to serving your country in the Armed Forces.
Paul Marc Oliu
York Drive
Montgomery
Vote to save parks with stable funding
To the editor:
The character of a place is perhaps best captured by its natural areas. Places like the rolling hills of the Sourlands and the local parks that dot the landscapes of towns across the state play an integral role in shaping what it means to live in New Jersey.
But New Jersey is not the place it once was. Sprawling development has transformed the state. Countless acres have fallen to the developer’s bulldozer, making way for strip mall after strip mall, subdivision after cookie-cutter subdivision. This has been the trend in New Jersey for decades, and it has forever altered the hometowns and natural places that once defined the state.
Even the places we’ve declared a permanent no-build zone our state and local parks have hit rough times. Parks have been chronically underfunded, leaving them with too few staff and a $250 million backlog for repairs.
Such trends pose numerous environmental threats, of course, from degraded drinking water to the loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species. But they also threaten to change what it feels like to live in this state. The New Jersey of tomorrow will be very different if we don’t act today.
This Nov. 7, vote yes on statewide ballot question No. 2. Voter approval of this question will provide a stable source of funding for the improvement, construction and repair of state and local parks and natural areas. The funds are drawn from environmental programs operating with surplus revenue, so taxpayers won’t bear any of the costs.
Voter approval of this question is just the first step we need to take to protect our natural spaces. In order to ensure high-quality, accessible natural areas in communities across the state, New Jersey must renew and strengthen the Garden State Preservation Trust, the trust fund responsible for purchasing threatened open spaces. The Trust has served us well for close to a decade, but will likely go bankrupt by the middle of next year if not reauthorized. In order for the Trust to remain the state’s best conservation tool, Gov. Corzine and the Legislature must agree on a sufficiently high level of funding and a mechanism through which to fund it.
As we renew the Trust, we must also ensure a stable source of funding for the operation, stewardship and maintenance of state and local parks. This funding would allow for the work of conservation officers and for basic stewardship, such as trail creation and wildlife habitat restoration. Already, open-space acquisitions have slowed, and if the Trust is not renewed soon, big developers will have free reign over remaining open lands.
We need to set aside roughly $400 million annually to purchase open space and maintain and preserve protected places. Inaction would mean the loss of places the worth of which we could never adequately assess. To protect the New Jersey we know today, we must make an investment to ensure that it still exists tomorrow.
Ethan Lavine
Environmental Associate
Environment New Jersey
Trenton
Bush’s actions make world less safe
To the editor:
President Bush has just eliminated the phrase "stay the course." Isn’t it now time that we stop "staying the course?" Are we safer today, thanks to the Bush administration?
If we could take a time machine ride back to the days and weeks immediately after 9/11, we would see and feel a unity among peoples and nations that had never existed before. The French newspaper Le Monde declared, "We are all Americans now!" and thousands attended candlelight vigils outside the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
And then what happened? By the middle of November 2001, all of this good will was squandered, as the Bush administration began knowingly to deceive the world about WMDs in Iraq; the progress of the war on terror; and the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and other detention facilities. The administration destroyed our reputation throughout the world, with its unilateral withdrawal from various treaties, including the Kyoto Protocols for global warming, and the 1972 ABM treaty and, most unsettlingly, its rejection of the sacred Geneva Conventions regarding the humane treatment of prisoners of war.
The message was clear: Rather than take the high road as the world’s only superpower, and lead by example, the administration has arrogantly opted for "it’s our way or the highway." It has consistently used this big-fist brand of "diplomacy," causing our military to be stretched to the breaking point; Iran and North Korea to flex their nuclear muscles; Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban and even Venezuela to be more emboldened then ever. Our world is now a virtual ticking time bomb.
Like the schoolyard bully who has thrown his weight around for far too long, taunting kids and ignoring rules and regulations, nobody sympathizes with him. Even his friends hope he gets knocked on his posterior, to be taught a lesson. That’s the thinking of the rest of the world, thanks to the actions of the Bush administration.
So, yes, Mr. President, change your rhetoric but, Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public, we must change those representatives in Congress who supported him.
It will take many years, perhaps generations, to undo what the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld triumvirate has wrought. A massive overhaul of Congress is a first step; but, possibly, impeachment will be the real catalyst to speed up the healing process, and mend the rift between the rest of the world and us. We could then honestly resume the quest for global peace, gain greater understanding and respect among peoples, eliminate the seeds of terrorism and be safe.
Allan Marcus
Blanketflower Lane
West Windsor
Democrats living in la-la land
To the editor:
I, a lifetime Democrat, have been increasingly disgusted by my fellow Democrats and their palpable hatred for all things Bush starting way before the Iraq war. My theory is these voters have never recovered from the 2000 election (let alone 2004). Personally, I see more hatred from them for President Bush than from the Muslim terrorists.
Over the past five years, I’ve come to realize how many Democrats live in la-la land. Even "Joe Sixpack" understands better what needs to be done than they do. My first encounter with this was in November 2001, when a friend, a Democrat, said to me, "It’s disgusting how they (the Bush administration) are persecuting that poor misguided boy," referring to John Walker Lindh. What? When a 2004 New York Times poll showed Republicans to be 19 percent more patriotic than Democrats, I was not surprised.
I have remained silent with my observations until a few weeks ago, when I overheard a conversation in the café at the Princeton Public Library. The man to whom the following comment was made I knew to be a Democrat. His friend said to him, "I wish to hell we could have another terrorist attack. Maybe then Bush could be impeached." Well, I was beyond horrified. This man, this Democrat, this American, would rather have his fellow Americans killed than have President Bush succeed.
I hate the Iraq war as much as anyone but I must now ask who are the Democratic voters? (I am not talking about the politicians. I very much like Sens. Dodd, Lieberman and Biden and McCain, too.) But the Democratic citizen is a whole different matter. Shame on you who want the country to fail so the president can fail as well.
Mary Holliday
Blue Spring Road
Montgomery
In WW, Pfeifer has proven track record
To the editor:
Whether you are a resident of West Windsor for four years or for four generations, we all have an equal stake in our town’s future.
In the past, opportunities existed for the development of such properties as Wyeth, Sarnoff and others, but never reached fruition because they were talked to death by certain factions in our community spreading fear and confusion. We don’t want to see the same fate befall the transit village endeavor.
Synergy must be developed among the council members and the mayor to push forward managed change. Without this, nothing will be accomplished. Barbara Pfeifer, through her past managerial/business experience, has the proven track record to accomplish this goal. We urge you to vote for Barbara Pfeifer on Nov. 7.
Jack Isola
Mistflower Lane
Paul Pitluk
Rainflower Lane
West Windsor
Anklowitz has genuine concern for people
To the editor:
Like everyone today, I am concerned about lower taxes. Will Anklowitz is my choice for West Windsor Township Council, because he is young and energetic and I feel he has a genuine concern for the people in our township.
Please join me on Election Day and get out and vote.
Billie Conover
Windsor Road
West Windsor
Pfeifer will work for better quality of life
To the editor:
By electing Barbara Pfeifer to the West Windsor Township Council on Nov. 7, you will allow her to continue to work for a better quality of life for all residents.
Three Township Council members have already publicly endorsed her. They are intimately aware of her commitment to the entire community, not only because they have come to value her independent, knowledgeable input while she has served with them on the council, but also because of her past record of community service, as a member of both the Planning Board and Ordinance Review Committee, among other community-wide organizations. These are in sharp contrast to her opponent’s record of only being a board member of his local homeowners’ association, and a member of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Soccer Association and the Friends of West Windsor Open Space.
Her opponent’s platform stresses three issues: lower property taxes, preserving open space and open government.
Addressing them one at a time:
We know that we all want lower property taxes. This is a non-election issue, since only the New Jersey Legislature can mandate a public constitutional convention, a course of action that our current mayor and many council members have long called for.
Barbara’s commitment to open space for the entire community is known by her support for using a greater percentage of the open-space tax toward having more development for recreational facilities for everyone’s enjoyment.
As for open government, Township Council meetings have always been open to all residents, though only a small group has taken the opportunity to attend them. We hope that Will Anklowitz’s desire for open government translates to his vote in the coming elections for open government on the national level, as well.
Lastly, Mr. Anklowitz keeps asking, "How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?" We believe that West Windsor has been stuck in the same place for many years, just as the many communities we’ve lived in across the country have been and still are in which a small minority of used-to-be-in-charge people ride roughshod over the needs and desires of the rest of their community, and are vocal in their opposition to change.
It’s time that the silent majority comes forward. We urge you to vote for Barbara Pfeifer on Nov. 7, so that the rest of us, along with Barbara and the Township Council, can shape a better quality of life for West Windsor residents of all ages.
Ina Brosseau Marx and Allen Marx
Claridge Court
West Windsor
‘Will’s World’ isn’t such a bad place
To the editor:
I read in an account of the debate between West Windsor Township Council candidates Will Anklowitz and Barbara Pfeiffer where Ms. Pfeiffer made the remark about how she would not like to live in "Will’s World." While she professes that she would like to see more respect between council members, biting remarks such as this "Will’s World" one seem to say just the opposite.
I’d like to live in Will’s world where people analyze (and, if necessary, criticize) dispassionately, not where people who have ideas are disparaged and reflexively criticized. Where the public is freely and frequently informed about what their elected officials have in mind. Where people understand that a private meeting is one everybody knows about but does not attend, while a secret meeting is one that nobody knows about, and that private meetings are sometimes necessary for government officials while secret meetings are not. Where people know that meticulous deliberation is a necessary part of formulating government policy, and snap decisions are inappropriate. Where planners understand that there is a social value of keeping seniors in town, but an additional fiscal value in keeping them in their houses.
Join me there Nov. 7.
Kathy Murray
Lorrie Lane
West Windsor
Pfieffer’s takes clear stand on the issues
To the editor:
It is a rare opportunity in West Windsor Council elections that we get such a clear choice who can influence the direction of the future of this town. After three debates, Barbara Pfeifer has made it absolutely clear what she stands for. She enthusiastically supports many critical local issues so important for people like you and me.
Barbara Pfeiffer will execute on her promise to improve on road safety, bike lanes and sidewalks and other recreational opportunities. She is a strong proponent of expanding open space at minimal cost to taxpayers. She supports the referendum to reduce the open-space tax from 5 cents to 3 cents. She fully supports the train station redevelopment project to bring in positive tax revenue and make it an envy of the region. And, more importantly, she believes in an open and ethical government.
Why do we need Barbara on council? She shares the same concerns on the road/traffic situation we have in West Windsor. I believe Barbara has what it takes to improve our roads and safety for this community.
Most people have no time to point out these problems. Her persistent nature caused her to take up a cleanup trail with the press to make sure the citizens in West Windsor are aware of what is out there, what it could be and what they should be looking forward to. Barbara Pfeifer has clearly demonstrated that she can focus on the long-term projects as well as West Windsor residents’ everyday concerns.
Barbara Pfeiffer is the right person to serve on the West Windsor Township Council. Her background in business and finance will ensure that our tax dollars are spent wisely and she will look for ways to reduce expenditures. Please join me in electing Barbara Preifer on Nov 7.
Raj Pillai
Wakefield Circle
West Windsor
Anklowitz will protect quality of life in WW
To the editor:
Cutting through all the unseemly rhetoric in the West Windsor Township Council election reveals one issue that is clear-cut and compelling protecting our quality of life.
Will Anklowitz has a clear-cut point of view regarding preserving our farmland, forests and open space. His opponent believes that "ratables" are the answer and will lower property taxes.
"Ratables" usually translate into more office buildings, warehouses and sprawl. Not only do they increase congestion and traffic, but there is no proof that they lead to lower taxes. Once we lose our farmland and open space it is lost forever.
As a lifelong West Windsor resident, Will appears to understand more clearly that we have a unique community and preserving this quality of life that we treasure in our community is more important than the short-term chase after developers who don’t have a long-term interest in our town.
John Sabino
Zaitz Farm Road
West Windsor
Anklowitz is best candidate for WW
To the editor:
There are a number of solid reasons why Will Anklowitz is actually the best candidate for West Windsor Township Council.
1) He has two young sons whom he and his wife have chosen to raise in West Windsor, so he clearly has a great interest in West Windsor’s future.
2) The fact that he grew up here and has the background of parents and grandparents who have lived in West Windsor for more than 70 years strongly suggests that he knows the township better than most of us transients.
3) Having knocked on the doors of more than 3,000 homes in almost every neighborhood in West Windsor during his campaign and listened to the concerns, needs and expectations of thousands of people has undoubtedly given him a better sense of the thinking and sentiment of the residents of the whole township than anyone else has at this time.
4) His undergraduate degree in public administration, together with his law degree, is about the best educational background a candidate for Township Council could have.
5) However, by far the strongest reason he is the best candidate for West Windsor Township Council is the fact that he will be free to form his own opinions and make his own judgments.
6) Finally, when you meet him, you quickly realize he is, first and foremost, a nice guy. That may seem like a lightweight comment but when you add his belief that it is usually possible to reach agreements through open discussion of issues, you start to think that Will Anklowitz may be just the person to calm down the wrangling and acrimony that has marred the West Windsor Township Council all too often over the past few months.
Everyone who reads this Please get out and vote on Nov. 7. It is important at every level. West Windsor residents Please vote for the person I believe is the best candidate for the West Windsor Township Council: Will Anklowitz.
Bob Akens
Windsor Drive
West Windsor
Community is more important than party
To the editor:
As you know, I am the fourth Democrat on the Montgomery Township Committee. The issue before us is whether loyalty to a political party is more important than the overall interests of the community. The answer is the community.
The concerns facing Montgomery in the next few years require committee persons given to thoughtful analysis, independent thinking, the ability to debate, coping with disagreement without taking it personally, and reaching conclusions based on the total picture.
Having served for the past two years, it has become obvious to me and others in our party that change is required.
I support Mark Caliguire and Walt Geslak because I believe they will bring to the committee the elements cited above.
I did not come to this conclusion lightly. I have worked with Ms. Birge and with Mr. Caliguire. I have listened to and talked with Mr. Fay and Mr. Geslak. There is no doubt in my mind that Mark and Walt will work for the best interests of the people of Montgomery.
John Warms
Brookside Drive
Montgomery
Birge, Fay will be part of effective team
To the editor:
This is a challenging time in our nation, in New Jersey and in Montgomery. At all levels of government, we need leaders who are knowledgeable, sensible and determined to tackle the complex challenges facing us.
This year, Montgomery is fortunate to have two outstanding candidates for Township Committee, Deputy Mayor Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay. They are exactly the right people for the job today.
I have worked closely with both Cecilia and Brad for years now. Cecilia is a diligent and highly effective member of the Township Committee. Because of her work as a leader of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee, we have powerful financial planning and management tools that help to inform the most far-reaching decisions that we make as elected officials.
But Cecilia is a lot more than a financial whiz. She has been a strong and articulate advocate for Kid Connection and shared services with the schools, for open space and other preservation investments, and for expanded, cost-effective transportation services for our elder residents.
Cecilia’s running mate, Brad Fay, is a civic leader in his own right, and an extraordinarily well-qualified candidate. Brad is warm, keenly analytical and driven by a desire to serve and to protect the interests of our community. His business/professional skills and public service credentials are exceptional. I have never met a first-time candidate that is better prepared to step into elected office than Brad Fay.
Cecilia and Brad are wholeheartedly committed to preserving what’s best about Montgomery. They will continue to exercise the fiscal responsibility and best practices that have become a hallmark of our local government. United with the rest of the Township Committee, they will stand up to the Department of Transportation and insist on a bypass design that does not split Pike Run in two or dump traffic into neighborhoods throughout Montgomery. They will plan wisely to ensure a bright future for Skillman Village. They will work with the school board to share costs and services, keeping municipal taxes as low as possible.
When we pull together, as a team or as a community, we can move mountains. Cecilia and Brad welcome the opportunity to serve you as leaders and as part of an effective team that is deeply committed to building community and keeping our township a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Please vote for Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay on Nov. 7.
Louise Wilson
Hollow Road
Montgomery
Vote for balance in Montgomery
To the editor:
Montgomery is a great place to live, thanks in part, to the efforts of the current Township Committee. We owe each of them our gratitude for all their efforts. If it’s going to continue to be a great place to live that we can all afford, Montgomery needs more balance between Republicans and Democrats.
There’s a train wreck coming that has nothing to do with Conrail grade crossings. Over a three-year period, municipal spending was increased by 45 percent, using the float on school district tax receipts to put off property-tax increases. This practice will not be allowed to continue in the future and even the mayor herself was quoted in this newspaper as saying a tax increases will be coming as early as next year. I ask the readers:
Do you know anyone who has said they will stay in Montgomery until their kids graduate from Montgomery High School but will then plan to move out of state because of the taxes?
Is it fair to burden longtime residents on fixed incomes with explosive tax increases that exceed inflation?
Do you feel comfortable mortgaging the future by paying 100 percent of extravagancies like a $5.5 million artificial pond (and possible mosquito farm/geese magnet) in the North Princeton Developmental center when the site already offers an abundance of natural and man-made beauty that simply needs to be restored for the whole town to enjoy? What’s more, if it is something that the town wants and needs, shouldn’t developers who will benefit from winning the lucrative project pay for it, as they have paid for parks and other improvements under previous administrations as part of getting their bid to get the project in the first place? Why are the taxpayers paying 100 percent? Do we have extra money we’re dying to spend?
Is this a good time to be creating a seller’s market for real estate, driving down home values and further driving up taxes because people need to leave to maintain the standard of living they enjoy?
Do our taxes compare favorably to similar communities?
The best way to address these challenges is with more bipartisan balance on the Township Committee.
If you like what Louise Wilson and the current Township Committee have done, then vote for Republicans Mark Caliguire and Walter Geslak to bring balance to ensure that the good they’ve done survives. If you’re not happy with the situation, vote for Republicans Mark Caliguire and Walter Geslak to bring balance to ensure that realistic fiscal policy ensures our wonderful quality of life and appropriate taxes for what we have.
Either way, the choice is clear if you care about the short term and long term for Montgomery. Vote for Republicans Mark Caliguire and Walter Geslak for today and for our future.
Paul and Joan Woitach
Peachtree Court
Montgomery
Birge, Fay focus on real issues, real solutions
To the editor:
We are writing to encourage Montgomery residents to vote for Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay for Township Committee on Tuesday.
Cecilia and Brad represent the kind of open, forward-thinking and fiscally responsible government that Montgomery needs to face the significant opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
We have lived in Montgomery for 12 years and have seen it grow dramatically. The Township Committee has faced the challenge of being fiscally responsible in the face of demographics that are skewed towards a large school-based population. Yes, our taxes are high, as our schools command a large portion of our town budget. We, like many who moved here, support excellence in education. Our schools continue to provide one of the most cost-effective, quality education programs in the state.
Both candidates are committed to working with the schools to find efficiencies in shared services, and to address the unfair state funding problem that is a root cause of high property taxes. Both have been active in advocating and planning for the cleanup and redevelopment of North Princeton Developmental Center. Both are committed to achieving a redesigned Hillsborough Bypass.
These two candidates also offer to township government their valuable business, finance and academic backgrounds.
Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay have been running an honest and positive campaign, focusing on real issues and real solutions. They deserve your vote on Nov. 7.
Jim and Denise Houghton
Grayson Drive
Montgomery
Caliguire stands up for his beliefs
To the editor:
Personal integrity and a willingness to stand up for your beliefs are hallmarks of a strong leader and an exemplary public servant. These are the characteristics that make Mark Caliguire a great representative for the township of Montgomery.
We have known Mark and his wife since we moved into town several years ago and are proud to call them our friends. As the lone Republican representative on the Township Committee, Mark has stood alone on many issues and not shied away from the tough fights. He has consistently been willing to stand alone to question the majority and ensure that alternative viewpoints are heard on every issue. We believe that Montgomery Township needs Mark to continue to be our means of checks and balances on a Township Committee that is otherwise devoid of opposing views.
For example, the development of Skillman Village will have potentially serious consequences on our tax structure in the future. Mark’s continued participation in this process will help to ensure a more tax-efficient conclusion to this project, while providing for a town center that benefits all of Montgomery’s citizens for years to come.
Mark has also been the lone voice shedding light on the significant budget increases that have been given minimal coverage. As taxpayers, we need a voice at the budget table. Mark is uniquely qualified in this area as he is a business owner. As such, he understands the critical importance of balancing needs with reasonable economic prudence. That is a characteristic that is urgently needed if we are to have a practical economic environment to pass along to our children.
We are enthusiastically supporting Mark for re-election and we urge you to support him as well.
Janeen and Mark Conforti
Silverthorn Lane
Montgomery
Birge is consistent in message and commitment
To the editor:
I am writing to encourage the citizens of Montgomery to cast their vote for Cecilia Birge for Township Committee.
Cecilia Birge is my neighbor and friend. Over the past five years, I have come to know Cecilia’s character by observing her and interacting with her in many different situations. I have seen her in her role as deputy mayor as she advocates for the interests of citizens. I worked with her as a Realtor and appreciated her intelligent, skillful and ethical approach to the myriad problems that threatened a home purchase. I admire her loving care and concern as a mother to her four young children. I have been impressed with this unique and talented woman in all areas of her life.
Cecilia possesses all the attributes of a leader and friend. First and foremost, she is always willing to listen. She is a problem-solver who will listen to all sides and respect each shareholder’s perspective. I have learned so much from her about mediating conflict, improving communication and building consensus.
She is also willing to dive into the details while keeping the big picture in mind. In the process of addressing the current needs of the community, she has helped introduce financial management and planning tools that will let us develop our long-range vision for the future. She values open space and our rural history and also recognizes the need for sensible ratables to improve our quality of life.
Fiscal responsibility is paramount in all her work. Her Wall Street background, grounded in common sense, is a big reason why our municipal taxes have remained steady these past three years.
But what I most want voters to know is that Cecilia is the real thing. She’s devoted and passionate about Montgomery. Whether she is "on the record" or just chatting with friends, she is consistent in her message and her commitment.
I urge all the citizens of Montgomery Township to vote for Cecilia Birge on Nov. 7.
Mary Ellen Sofield
Morris Place
Montgomery
Formative experiences shaped Birge’s integrity
To the editor:
Politics is always an interesting topic of conversation when you’re married to the deputy mayor of Montgomery but happen to belong to the opposite party. But, then, party affiliation is probably the least of our differences.
While I was having an "all-American" Midwestern childhood, my wife, Cecilia, was surviving political persecution as she moved through labor camps with her mother. She came to the U.S. on a full-scholarship to Bryn Mawr College after participating in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and thrived in this country with a career on Wall Street, where I met her.
The differences in our upbringings are so extreme as to be almost comical. We can laugh about it because we know that, at a core level, our values are in fact very much the same. And by never losing touch with that common ground, we have learned from each other. She has influenced many of my views (both political and otherwise) and I know that I have similarly influenced her.
The absurd political labels that were applied to Cecilia and her family during the Cultural Revolution carried life-altering consequences. Those formative experiences have ingrained in Cecilia a deep distrust of ideological rhetoric and a desire to reach beyond the differences that divide us. This character trait has served her well, not just in our marriage, but in her service to the township, as well.
Honesty, civility, integrity and commitment more than anything else, these are what matter. Good government is driven not by ideology, but rather by good planning, intelligence and community support. Cecilia has always tried to measure herself against that yardstick. By running a smart, efficient municipal government that puts aside rhetoric to focus on pragmatic solutions to the key concerns of our community, she has made good progress toward tackling many of the difficult challenges that our increasingly diverse community faces.
I can attest to Cecilia’s knack for finding common ground. And in Montgomery, the need for open dialog and pragmatic, common-sense policies that we can all rally around has never been greater. So I ask you to join me in voting on Nov. 7 for Cecilia Xie Birge to serve another term on the Township Committee.
Cliff Birge
Adams Drive
Montgomery
Fay is well prepared to take public office
To the editor:
We are enthusiastically supporting our neighbor, Brad Fay, in his candidacy for Montgomery Township Committee.
Brad has made a significant contribution to our community. As the president of the Van Harlingen Historical Society, he helped that organization increase its membership by 100 percent, launch a Web site, lobby New Jersey to sell the North Princeton Developmental Center to Montgomery, and provide educational programs to adults and children in our town. He also has given generously of his time to the township Landmarks Commission and to the NPDC Redevelopment Concept Committee. His civic involvement extends to education, as he is also a part-time faculty member at Rutgers University.
Brad has a strong business background, as well. After many years as a senior executive in a large company, he recently launched an innovative research company, the Keller Fay Group, which is based in New Brunswick. We believe this demonstrates that Brad has business and financial acumen needed by members of our Township Committee, as the committee attempts to resolve difficult issues, e.g. the Hillsborough Bypass.
Brad is a man who has held positions of increasing responsibility and accountability in both the business world and our community. He has shown that he has the ability to work with other members of various civic and business groups, which we believe is critically important in advancing the initiatives of our township. His is not a divisive voice; he will seek to build consensus among those residents with differing viewpoints.
We believe Brad Fay brings to the table the experience, the civic-mindedness and integrity we need in our elected officials.
We hope you’ll join us in supporting Brad Fay for the Township Committee.
Mary Ellen and Rob Sparno
Red Oak Way
Montgomery
Merritt, running mates will keep taxes low
To the editor:
I urge all voters in Rocky Hill to exercise their vote on Tuesday and to cast their ballots for the Merritt, Regan-Seither, Uhrik team.
Eileen Uhrik has performed admirably since being appointed to fill a vacancy on the council this after not gaining a seat in the prior election by an extremely narrow margin. As chair of the Streets and Roads Committee, she has kept the safety of our borough residents foremost in mind. While small in stature and voice, Ms. Uhrik has stood up to pressure from other councilmen and has voted her conscience on several important matters, including a no vote on a proposed bicycle race that I and many other citizens consider a fiasco in the making.
While this is Mary Regan-Seither’s first campaign for council, she is no stranger to the people of Rocky Hill. A lifelong resident, Ms. Regan-Seither has been contributing to the community since her teenage years. As an active member of the Community Group, she was responsible for the first Rocky Hill Community phone book. She is a successful businesswoman, who will bring a much-needed sense of fiscal responsibility to the council.
Brad Merritt has lived in Rocky Hill for 24 years, raising a family with his wife, Peggy, a lifelong resident. Mr. Merritt is in his fourth term as a councilman and is intimately informed about borough and county government. As happens in Rocky Hill, the chairmanship of most committees rotates through the council. In his 13 years on council, Mr. Merritt has gained valuable experience in almost every committee. He is committed to fiscal responsibility and open government.
Ask any local Realtor and he will tell you that Rocky Hill is a very desirable place to live. First and foremost on the list of desirable attributes is our low tax rate. This is no accident, but the result of hard work by our volunteer borough government over the past decade. But this situation is poised to change because of the way in which some councilmen approach the budget process. Historically in Rocky Hill, each committee chairman brought to the budget meeting a proposed committee budget based on the funding of specific items. This allowed the council to prioritize each committee’s budget in the context of the keeping taxes stabile in other words, no committee was ever given a lump sum to spend however it felt best. But in recent years, some councilmen have taken to doing just that. For example, this year a recreation budget was submitted without any itemization. Add to this the cost overruns attributed to a more than $40,000 structure to provide shade for two picnic tables near a playground and last year’s 4-cent per $100 increase in the tax rate may have to be duplicated again this year.
The Merritt, Regan-Seither, Uhrik team is absolutely committed to reining in such unsupervised spending. I urge voters to support Brad Merritt, Mary Regan-Seither and Eileen Uhrik in their effort to bring fiscal responsibility and open, ethical government back to Rocky Hill.
Thomas Roshetar
Princeton Avenue
Rocky Hill
Zimmerman led fight against Wawa
To the editor:
Virtually no one in Rocky Hill wanted Wawa to build a 12-pump gas station on top of our only source of drinking water. Now that it looks like we’re about to win the battle, we need to thank two elected representatives who made this happen our current mayor, George Morren, and Councilman Ed Zimmerman.
Ed was instrumental in the agreement with Montgomery to prevent the Wawa proposal. He attended every single meeting in Montgomery, be it a Planning Board meeting or a Township Committee meeting, when the gas station was on the agenda. Along with Councilmen Jared Witt and Brian Griner, he spoke up time and again for Rocky Hill, vowing to back up our fight with every possible resource.
Among those resources were the Concerned Citizens of Rocky Hill a group formed by those of us dead set against the gas station. During that time, Ed made himself available for all kinds of inquiries. He was indispensable in giving out information about environmental issues, actions and deeds, and he always knew whom we could ask for more information. When we wanted to paint street signs in protest, his wife donated the paint and supplied us with brushes.
Ed Zimmerman is a hands-on man who has brought our community together by reaching out and making himself available. He reached out to Montgomery to start a dialogue and has continued to build a relationship that has resulted in ordinances that protect both communities. He offered to coordinate an interlocal agreement to protect water across Rocky Hill, Montgomery and Hopewell that he will pursue before his current council term is up. He will continue the positive relationship with Montgomery that George Morren started. Although their party affiliations differ, he supports Montgomery Mayor Louise Wilson for freeholder because he knows that Rocky Hill’s problems can only be solved in cooperation with other municipalities.
Ed’s dedication to protect Rocky Hill has been evident in his hard work. If you love Rocky Hill, there is only one clear choice for mayor. Please vote for Ed Zimmerman.
Gabriele Dietrich
A.S. Krishnakumar
Bill and Ann Holmes
Merritt Lane
Rocky Hill
Merritt makes logical, informed decisions
To the editor:
As a lifelong resident of Rocky Hill, I am tired of all the rhetoric every time there are differing opinions and concerns expressed on any given subject. We have the right to ask questions and request information on events and issues that affect all of us in Rocky Hill.
Some people think their unethical behavior is a joke. Ethics are not a joke.
I believe meetings should be recorded. I urge you all to go to your Borough Council and board meetings. If you cannot make meetings, read the minutes. See for yourself what is going on in town. Ask questions. Anyone can "spin" a story one way or another, but if you make the effort to educate yourself on our town, there will be no misinformation or partial truths. You will have the actual facts, through your own research, to make your own educated decision on town issues. I do not want to have our town be the brunt of jokes.
I support my husband, Brad Merritt, for mayor 100 percent. He considers all sides of any issue in order to make a logical and informed decision for the good of our town. He is not afraid to ask questions and he is sincere in his total commitment when it comes to the welfare of all Rocky Hill residents.
Peggy Collins Merritt
Washington Street
Rocky Hill
Reward hard workers in Rocky Hill race
To the editor:
There’s a little inside joke among those of us who live in Rocky Hill that the town is so small you have to take the committee post of the person from whom you bought your house. It’s not far from true. Rocky Hill runs almost entirely on volunteers, from our mayor and councilmen/women, to the fire department and the shade tree committee. It’s a town where almost everyone pitches in to make the town run. But some volunteers just show up while others are there to fold up the chairs when the meeting is over.
I was personally disappointed to read that when making endorsements for our borough council, you relied upon resumes and an interview alone. Doing so, you missed one of the quiet but hard-working candidates who ought to win our vote.
Having served on the traffic committee with Dan Harrington, I was enormously impressed with his thoughtfulness, his diligence and his commitment. Among our tasks was for each of us to take a street and go door-to-door with a petition for residents to agree to drive the speed limit and to support traffic-calming. Most of us made a good effort, but Dan went to every single door on Washington Street (our most populous and most affected by traffic) until he spoke to each and every neighbor. Often he stood in the doorway while a citizen railed at him; many times people wanted to have their stories of near misses or resident safety heard; sometimes they were downright ugly; regularly they were not home and he had to make another trip another day after work. After he’d finally heard from each one, he dutifully reported their complaints and concerns to the committee.
All of the people on the ballot this year have volunteered for the borough in some capacity, as most of us have. I want my neighbors to seriously consider whether the person who gets their vote is the kind of volunteer who’s the kind who makes a strong speech or a convincing scene, but in the end does not deliver, or the one who’s there at the end to see the project all the way through.
Ed Zimmerman, Bill Hallman and Dan Harrington all know where the folding chairs are kept. Please cast your vote for the ones who have done the kind of hard work that continues to make Rocky Hill such a wonderful place to live.
Jane Oakley
Montgomery Avenue
Rocky Hill
Merritt works tirelessly for benefit of Rocky Hill
To the editor:
I’d like to take a moment to share with you a few memories memories created by Brad Merritt. These memories of mine will show you a kind, caring, loving father, grandfather, husband and community advocate.
A caring father: I recall a time from when I was in college, 400-plus miles away from home, when I became very ill. Brad Merritt, my father, drove through the night to be at my bedside. He arrived tired but never complained. He was anxious to help his daughter who was in need.
A loving husband: I recall a time when my mother suffered from an illness earlier this year. Brad Merritt’s only concern was his wife. He stayed at my mother’s bedside until he brought her home from the hospital. Days without sleep and his only concern was to bring his wife home.
A loving grandfather: I recall a time, many times, when Brad Merritt gave his undivided attention to his grandchildren and their needs. He pushes them on the swing, plants the garden with them and reads to them. My children love their grandfather and look forward to the time they spend with him.
A community advocate: I recall many times when Brad Merritt was Rocky Hill Borough’s greatest advocate. Those times include long meetings regarding the Schafer tract, meetings on traffic-calming and meetings with the emergency services. In fact, I remember my dad attending meetings to further the betterment of Rocky Hill Borough as long as 20 years ago. Brad Merritt has not listed all the projects he has made happen for Rocky Hill Borough because the list would be too long. He works for Rocky Hill Borough and not for personal gain.
I lived in Rocky Hill Borough until the day I was married, six years ago. During that time, I was president of the Board of Health, a member of Rocky Hill First Aid & Rescue Squad, constable and a member of the Planning Board. Our entire family has been working for Rocky Hill for more than 21 years. Make the right decision and vote for the man with experience, Brad Merritt.
Peggy Gladstone
Dutchtown-Harlingen Road
Montgomery
Vote for Regan-Seither would be positive step
To the editor:
I agree with your endorsement of Mary Regan-Seither for the Rocky Hill Council and disagree with the negative aspersions cast on her character in a previous letter.
As a member of the Montgomery Township Board of Education, I had the opportunity to work cooperatively with her and to discuss the educational needs of our students and the strategies for operating our schools more effectively and productively. While Ms. Regan-Seither was on the Rocky Hill board, I found her to be a conscientious, caring and principled board member, dedicated to doing right for the children of Rocky Hill.
I have also had the privilege of working with her in her support for special education students. She was extremely instrumental in establishing with others the very successful school for gifted, learning-disabled students, the Bridge Academy, located in Lawrence. She would apply the same energy and attention to her council position as she has for this school and its students.
As a speech-language pathologist, Ms. Regan-Seither also knows the value of the health and welfare of a community. Thus, a vote for her would be a positive step for Rocky Hill.
Reginald Luke
Adams Drive
Montgomery
The following letters did not appear in Friday’s Packet due to space limitations.
Parks deserve dedicated funds
To the editor:
High-quality, accessible parks and natural areas are essential to health of New Jersey communities. However, for decades, these areas have lacked sufficient funding to address basic repair and improvement needs leading to a decline in the many economic and quality of life benefits they provide.
On Tuesday, voters have the opportunity to support these long-neglected, yet dearly beloved areas. A yes vote on Ballot Question No. 2 would dedicate millions of dollars a year to building new restroom facilities, urban nature centers and visitor facilities and funding other capital projects at our state and local natural areas. And it would do so without requiring any new taxes by simply relocating a surplus of funds from the corporate business tax already dedicated to environmental programs.
However, voter approval of this ballot question is just the first step we need to take. In order to continue preserving open space, farmland and historic sites and to better maintain existing natural areas, we must urge the governor and legislators to replenish and strengthen the Garden State Preservation Trust, which is rapidly running out of funds.
Investing in our natural areas is an investment in our communities and our quality of life.
Thomas J. Gilmore
President
New Jersey Audubon Society
West State Street
Trenton
Democrats field high-caliber candidates
To the editor:
In recent years, we have come to know Louise Wilson quite well. In countless meetings, public and private, as well as a variety of other venues, this is what we have observed:
Professionalism;
Intelligence and forward thinking;
Open-mindedness;
Warmth and good humor;
Intimate familiarity with details large and small; and
Decisiveness and political will.
At a time of growth and change in Montgomery, Louise’s steadiness and high regard for the people and traditions of the township have earned her the respect and affection of most residents. She has raised the profile of the township and represented us with distinction in state and regional forums.
As a leader, Louise recruits and inspires a wide variety of people to participate in local activities and public service. As a consensus builder, she welcomes and relishes civil debate on the issues that affect us all. As a problem solver, she brings the very best minds to the table and gets things done. As an advocate for our community interests, she is uncompromising.
Louise Wilson is running for Somerset County freeholder. Her colleagues, Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay, are running on the same ticket for Township Committee. We will vote for all three of them, and also for Linda Stender, grateful that in this era of ugly rhetoric and political foolishness, people of this caliber are still willing to run for public office.
Thomas Lee
Deborah Compte
River Road
Montgomery
Caliguire, Geslak backed in Montgomery
To the editor:
I am requesting the voters of Montgomery to consider incumbent Mark Caliguire and Walter Geslak when they cast their vote on Nov. 7.
Mark Caliguire has been a strong voice on the Township Committee, but because he is the lone Republican on the committee, his thoughts and concerns may not always be considered.
Walter Geslak is very capable and has done his homework on the issues in preparation for a position on the Township Committee. He will be a good addition to Mark Caliguire in balancing the decision-making process by your representatives on the Montgomery Township Committee.
Don Matthews
Rutland Road
Montgomery
Wilson stands firm on bypass issue
To the editor:
I read some of the letters published in the Oct. 30 issue of the Packet. I am amazed that anyone could claim that members of the current Montgomery administration are "soft" on the Hillsborough Bypass issue.
In fact, Louise Wilson and other colleagues on the Township Committee have led the fight to stop the current design of the bypass and protect Montgomery, Rocky Hill and Princeton. Those efforts are finally now bearing fruit. Whether through the Department of Transportation’s study of alternatives, or pure cost considerations, or litigation if it proves necessary, the bypass war will be won. Mayor Wilson and the other members of our current township government have made their position crystal clear and have not wavered; they deserve credit and respect for their vision and tireless work on this matter.
The angry letter writers now are the very people who, as Township Committee members and negotiators in the early 1990s, signed the original bypass agreement with the DOT a deal that nailed down a bypass alignment that everyone now understands is fundamentally, fatally flawed. That deal was a huge accomplishment at the time because it prevented the widening of Route 206 throughout the township.
Mr. Kress no doubt had Montgomery’s interests in mind when he negotiated and signed that deal. He need not be embarrassed by the outcome 14 years later. Twisting facts and making baseless accusations now is as unproductive as it is unseemly.
Suzi Davis
Jamestown Road
Montgomery
Democrats Birge, Fay offer common-sense leadership
To the editor:
For the past five years, the Montgomery Township Committee has practiced fiscal conservatism and introduced long-range financial planning practices that have drawn praise from financial professionals and bonding agencies.
Every other portion of the property-tax bill has jumped, except the municipal tax. That is a fact.
Despite the majority political affiliation, the committee has been made up of individuals who toe no party line. They are independent thinkers and leaders.
There is a strong consensus among Township Committee members on issues of historic importance to our community opposition to the Hillsborough Bypass plan; support for high-quality, low-density redevelopment of the North Princeton Developmental Center site; the introduction of strong financial planning and management tools; investments in traffic-relief projects. This consensus is not about politics or any individual’s agenda. It’s about what is right for our community.
We are dismayed to see the strongly negative and personal attacks being made in the last days of this campaign, which has been a model of civility until now, in contrast to the deafening negativity in other races in New Jersey and around the country.
Those of us who have lived in Montgomery a long time can testify to the refreshing openness, inclusiveness and strong leadership that we’ve had for these past five years. We applaud and are grateful to the people of Montgomery for electing and re-electing outstanding local officials who happen to be Democrats. A vote for Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay on Nov. 7 will be a vote to continue the thoughtful, effective, common-sense leadership we have come to expect in Montgomery.
Lois and Bill Pauley
Griggstown Road
Montgomery
Birge, Fay are right people for job
To the editor:
Deciding which candidates to support on Election Day can be tough. Mailers, banners and phone calls don’t convey who people are or indicate how they will approach issues. My decision is easy this year for Montgomery Township Committee. My experiences with both Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay make me confident they are the right people for the job.
I have had the opportunity as a volunteer to participate in meetings and working sessions with both Brad and Cecilia regarding the historic resources in Montgomery. Brad, as former president of the Van Harlingen Historical Society, brings a wealth of knowledge regarding Skillman Village/NPDC (and other historic resources) to the table. I have seen him put in the time and effort to understand relevant federal and state regulations, clarify a process for assessment of the most historically valuable buildings at NPDC, and structure recommendations that make sense.
In informal discussions with Cecilia about potential new commercial activity in the township, I have found she listened to concerns. She understands the need to identify real and long-term impacts of increased commercial activity. She does not leap prematurely at perceived tax bonanzas. Would an increased tax base come with costs, such as endangering the rare, rural character of the township? Would there be associated increases to infrastructure costs for the township? I agree with Cecilia’s balanced consideration of the impacts that increased commercial development can sometimes bring to a community.
I believe Cecilia Birge and Brad Fay will act to promote the best interests of the township based on determination of the relevant facts, consideration of both short- and long-term impacts, and balanced assessment of the situation at hand. This is why I will vote for them for Montgomery Township Committee and why I urge fellow residents to join me.
Kristine Mineo
Harlingen Road
Montgomery

