Locally, party affiliation can, should be irrelevant

It’s a shame that so few of Lawrence Township’s registered voters participated in the November elections, and it’s a shame that many of these voters let national party affiliation get in the way of local politics.
But who can blame them? A candidate only stands a chance if he or she lines up with the Democrats or the Republicans, and party affiliation is front-and-center in local elections.
This year, one campaign tried, and nearly succeeded, in turning tradition on its head. A multi-party coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and even Green Party members backed a maverick Republican candidate for Township Council. While we’re obviously disappointed that we missed victory by a handful of votes, we are pleased that Falk Engel’s candidacy raised issues that would otherwise have remained unexposed.
That the Township Council elections were so close was a surprise to a lot of people. That the incumbents’ victory wasn’t so easy is a good thing. It means that none of the members of the Township Council, new or returning, can claim a mandate. The election was too close for pride to get in the way of serious consideration of all sides of every issue.
Councilwoman Pamela Mount is suggesting more frequent council meetings and more involvement with neighborhoods. These are good ideas, and we hope the council acts upon them. But there is more that would help the council see beyond its factions: We would like to see more respect paid to citizens who speak at meetings, no matter what the cause. We expect more openness with the public and with each other. And we expect the council to act not as two parties, but as five individuals serving in the best interest of all of Lawrence Township.
Party affiliation at the local level should be, and can be, irrelevant. To the new Township Council, we remind you that none of you can sit back and that all of you need to listen to all of us.
Carol Lerner, Pine Knoll Drive; Laura Lynch, Lumar Road; Nick Mellis, Harmony Avenue; Edith Pike, Princeton Pike