Rich Levesque, 26, also will run for the seat in November
By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The newest Township Council member not only plans to fill the vacancy on the dais, he intends to run for the remaining four-year term in November.
Rich Levesque, 26, of Garden Place, was appointed to Township Council on Sept. 4 in a 2-2 vote, with Mayor Dave Fried casting the tiebreaker.
”I’m very excited to have the opportunity,” the new councilman said. “I appreciate council’s vote of confidence and I look forward to working with them and the mayor.”
His appointment filled the vacancy left by the Aug. 30 resignation of Councilman Tim McGough. Mr. Levesque’s tenure will last until the Nov. 4 municipal election results are certified, Township Clerk Michele Auletta said.
Residents who have lived in Robbinsville for one year and are registered to vote are eligible to run in the election for the remainder of the four-year term, which ends June 30, 2011, she said. Petitions are due 4 p.m. Thursday (today) in the township clerk’s office.
As of Tuesday, Mr. Levesque was the only resident registered to run for the seat. Deputy Municipal Clerk Beth Dupnak said two other residents, Elizabeth Raam and Dale Jones, had picked up petitions to run but had not yet collected the required 73 signatures and returned them to the office. Petitions are due by 4 p.m. today (Thursday).
Mr. Levesque, an associate at Trenton-based Insight Consulting Services since July 2007, serves on the township’s Open Space Advisory Committee and has previously served on the State Council on Local Mandates.
A resident of the township for 18 months, the new councilman said he would like to work with officials to continue developing the Route 130 corridor.
”I moved to Robbinsville because there has been responsible development in recent years, which helps to increase the ratable base and controls property taxes for residents,” he said, adding that open space preservation and keeping the township affordable, particularly for seniors, are important to him.”
Mr. Levesque, who received a nomination from Councilman Dave Boyne, was among three nominees to fill the vacancy. Resident Jim Guididas and former Mayor Vince Calcagno each earned a bid from Councilwoman Sonja Walter and Councilman Bill Lesniak, respectively.
Ultimately, Mr. Guididas received votes from Ms. Walter and Mr. Lesniak, and Mr. Levesque was backed by council President Chris Ciaccio, Mr. Boyne and Mayor Fried.
Ms. Walter said she felt Mr. Guididas, a 13-year Robbinsville resident, had done an excellent job when he served on the Municipal Utilities Authority and would continue to do good things as a member of council.
”He is community-minded, civic-minded and his willingness to serve is commendable,” she said.
She expressed concern over Mr. Levesque’s relatively short residency in the township.
”I’ve heard concerns, particularly from seniors who felt it would be a wiser idea to elect someone who has lived in town for more than 18 months,” she said. “Someone who is more familiar with where we are and where we are going — someone who represents the town in its entirety.”
Both she and Mr. Lesniak noted that the remaining two candidates had not planned to run in the November election, so appointing them would not create a unfavorable, three-week incumbency.
But Mr. Boyne said he would like to see continuity going into the election and Mr. Levesque had already expressed a willingness to fill the vacancy and run for the seat in November. He said he also liked Mr. Levesque’s community involvement and background in finance.
Ms. Ciaccio added that the new councilman would bring a different perspective to the council based on his age and residency; no other member of council currently lives in Town Center, she said.

