Democrat replaces departing Committeewoman Karen Wintress
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY The Township Committee on Thursday unanimously appointed Brad Fay to fill the vacant seat left open by the resignation of former Committeewoman Karen Wintress.
Mr. Fay, who was sworn in Thursday and will be sitting on the committee at its next meeting, said he was happy about the appointment and looking forward to the challenges ahead.
"I feel honored that my new colleagues had the confidence in me to appoint me to the position," Mr. Fay said in a phone interview Monday. "I look forward to working with all of them on the very important matters facing the township."
Those matters, he said, include the significant task of managing the cleanup and redevelopment of the former North Princeton Developmental Center site.
"We also have the challenge to find a more sensible design for the Route 206 bypass, and we need to work on the issue of affordability with respect to property taxes," Mr. Fay said.
Mr. Fay will serve until the November 2007 election. At that time, there will be three seats up for election two three-year terms, currently held by Mayor Louise Wilson and Committeeman John Warms, and a one-year term for the final year of Ms. Wintress’s term.
The candidate who wins the one-year term will be sworn in immediately, rather than waiting until January.
Ms. Wintress, who cited family reasons for leaving her seat, submitted her resignation Nov. 20, effective on that date. She will be returning to Connecticut to deal with those personal issues this month, she said.
"It was a tough decision, I love this community," said Ms. Wintress during Thursday’s committee meeting.
Mr. Fay, who ran on the Democratic ticket with Committeewoman Cecilia Birge in the Nov. 7 general election, finished third behind incumbent Republican Mark Caliguire and Ms. Birge. Walter Geslak, a Republican, finished fourth.
Upon receiving Ms. Wintress’s resignation, the Montgomery Democratic Organization submitted three names from which the Township Committee chose her replacement Mr. Fay, Sue Repko and Sarah Roberts.
Though the committee recognized Ms. Repko, who has been active in the NPDC planning and other environmental issues in the township, and Ms. Roberts, who sits on the Planning Board, as strong candidates, Mr. Fay got the nod.
Mr. Fay, 41, is the founder of his own specialty market research group called Keller Fay Group. He has lived in the township for seven years and was the president of the township’s Van Harlingen Historical Society.
He is married and has two children in the school district. He graduated from Colby College and received a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. He was also a member of the township’s landmarks commission and active in the planning for the former NPDC site.
Mayor Wilson said Mr. Fay was a strong candidate.
"I will miss Karen, I think we all will," the mayor said, "but I really can’t think of a better person to step up than Brad. He is very knowledgeable about the issues we’re dealing with related to NPDC and a lot of other things, and I have just no doubt at all that he’s going to do well from day one."

