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Meet the Borough Council candidates

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   With five candidates for Borough Council, each of whom have lived in Manville for at least 30 years, the main goal is trying to do what’s best for the town they love.
   This year’s election has five candidates running for two, three-year seats on council. Incumbents Kathy Quick and Steve Szabo, both Republicans, are running for re-election to second terms and face challengers Democrats Lou Fischer and Ron Skirkanish, and independent Rich Onderko.
   Elections will be held on Nov. 4.
Lou Fischer
   Lifelong resident Lou Fischer, of North 14th Street, said he has not run for public office in the past, but was part of former Mayor Angelo Corradino’s re-election teams, and is a member of the Manville Recreation Commission.
   ”I have always given a lot of my time to our town, whether volunteering to coach baseball, softball or basketball, fundraising or event planning for local organizations, or helping run the recreation programs,” he said.
   Mr. Fischer studied business management, and graduated from Raritan Community College in 1980. He said he has also remained in the area for his work, and opened LFS Printing Co. on South Main Street, in 2006.
   ”We specialize in digital and offset printing,” he said. “I’ve been in business in Manville for a total of about 12 years. My lapse in business ownership happened when Merrill Lynch hired me to run their print purchasing department from 1997 to 2005.”
    A Manville High School graduate, Mr. Fischer said his daughters, 18-year-old Alison, 14-year-old Holly and 12-year-old Jamie,– are now former and current Manville students as well.
   ”I thought this year was a great time for me to run for Borough Council,” said Mr. Fischer, who has been married to his wife, Sharon, for 21 years. “It was a great time to put my experience as a businessman, both in town and as a manager in corporate America, to use in my hometown.”
Rich Onderko
   Also running for a first-time position on council is Rich Onderko, of Louis Street, who said he first became interested in politics in high school when he was selected to participate in the American Legion’s Boys State program, where students learn the structure and function of the federal government.
   ”The Iranian hostage crisis loomed large at the time and, with the advent of President Ronald Reagan onto the political scene, was refreshing,” he said. “My political interests are all about love of country and the town Manville in which we live.”
   Mr. Onderko said he has worked in the field of information technology for 25 years, after receiving a master’s in business administration from Rider University. Currently, he said, he is working with a company to deliver business intelligence over the Internet to all levels of management for financial analysis.
   Mr. Onderko said his love of Manville has kept him living in town his entire life, and he continues to stay there with his wife of 22 years, Sharon.
   ”I have lived on the north side of town my entire life, and know the pain flood victims feel firsthand,” he said. “I have only the desire to help Manville taxpayers in seeking a council position.”
Kathy Quick
   Seeking another term on council is Kathy Quick, of Bridge Street, who said she has lived in Manville for 32 years, despite the periodic flooding.
   ”It is flood central,” she said. “But if you choose to live there, you have to deal with those consequences.”
   Ms. Quick said she first got involved in politics working for Somerset County, when she started in consumer affairs about 18 years ago. After several years working for the county, she continued to rise in positions to her current post as the deputy clerk for the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
   ”I serve as an office manager,” she said. “I write resolutions, manage agendas, anything with the freeholders.”
   In addition, Ms. Quick said, she has served as legislative assistant for state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-Branchburg, and currently holds that position with Assemblywoman Denise Coyle, R-Branchburg.
   ”Technically, I’ve had 18 years of government experience,” she said. “I have been seeing how Trenton works.”
   To prepare for her work experience, Ms. Quick said she studied to become a certified public manager, allowing her to manage public employees.
   With the borough, Ms. Quick said, she has served on committees for finance; personnel; progress and development; and buildings and grounds. Currently, she is chairwoman of the Public Works Committee.
   Ms. Quick said she had initially lost a bid for the council about 20 years ago, before winning her first term three years ago.
   ”I thought it was time, and thought I had something to contribute,” she said. “Those without the experience have no idea how tough it is. But this is a critical time for Manville, and I think I can contribute.”
   She has been married to her husband, Donald, for 28 years, and has three children, 37-year-old twins Scott and Mark, and 25-year-old Jarrett.
   Ms. Quick is also an author, having already written 13 romance novels, with three more under her contract.
      ”It’s an escape,” she said. “I can go places in the book I can’t go in real life.”
   Ms. Quick said she is also working on a nonfiction book, detailing the history of Manville.
Ron Skirkanish
   Ron Skirkanish, of Huff Avenue, has lived in Manville for a total of about 42 years, and said he loves the small town feel.
   He and his wife, Gale, have a 19-year-old son, Ron Jr.
   ”The location of Manville is the best,” he said. “Wherever you live, you are in walking distance from some store.”
   After attending Somerset Votech to study carpentry, Mr. Skirkanish said he began his work in the field, and, in around 1995, he opened Widow’s Walk Home Maintenance, but left that in 2005, and now works as a member of Carpenters Local 455.
   ”I do all commercial work,” he said. Some examples of his projects in the past, he said, include work at Bridgewater Commons Mall, and a reconstruction of the main entrance at Somerset Medical Center after it suffered damage in Hurricane Floyd.
   Although he has been working with the Democratic Party for 12 years, Mr. Skirkanish said his interest in running for office began after the April 2007 nor’easter, and the damaging floods that affected residents throughout the borough.
   ”There is nothing more scary than seeing the water come up to your front door,” he said. “I volunteered to run because I think there’s a lot I can do.”
Steve Szabo
   The final candidate, also vying for his second term, is Steve Szabo, a 47-year resident with with a daughter and two sons, 44-year-old Odette, 43-year-old Joseph and 19-year-old Jeffrey.
   ”I like the people here and we are close to everything,” said Mr. Szabo, who lives on Louise Drive. “It is a small, quiet town.”
   Mr. Szabo works as a pharmacy tech and Rx delivery person with Drug Fair, on South Main Street.
   He joined the Navy as a machinist’s mate 90 days after he graduated high school in the 1950s. While in the Navy for six years, he said, he worked in the engine rooms, helping to maintain speeds.
   After leaving the Navy, he worked for Cyanamid in Bound Brook for 44 years as a shift operations leader, then worked as a security guard with Adessa Auto Auctions before joining Drug Fair.
   Prior to the election three years ago, Mr. Szabo said, he was working as a school crossing guard, when he was asked to run for council.
   ”I disregarded it at first,” he said. “But then they chose Ms. Quick and myself. And I enjoy it, and got to meet a lot of people.”
   As part of the council, Mr. Szabo said, he has worked with many of the town’s committees, including building and grounds; personnel; Officer of Emergency Management; Board of Health; and recreation.
   ”I have learned how politics work in town,” he said.