Audience offers views on mayoral candidates

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — If public comments made at Monday’s Township Council meeting are any indication, it could be an awfully tight mayoral race.

The crowd was nearly split between supporters of Democrat David Stahl and Republican Christi Calvano, who along with independent candidate Donald Klemp are vying to be elected mayor in the Nov. 4 election.

Robert Tagliente, who has run for council, brought up the cultural arts center construction, something Stahl publicly questioned and scrutinized. Stahl was upset because the administration did not produce a budget for the facility, which is still under construction. Tagliente said Calvano was the only past council member to argue that the facility would cost more than was claimed at the time.

Tagliente threw that recollection at Stahl, noting that at the time, Stahl said he had faith in the mayor and administration to get the facility built at the stated budget of $1.2 million. The facility is now expected to wind up costing about $2.6 million, partly funded with $1.2 million from the sale of township property and $1 million in county grants.

“Stahl later lost faith,” Tagliente said.

Tagliente said the county came to the Democrats’ rescue by awarding $1 million in grants for the facility.

Resident Donna Santamarino said she will vote for Calvano and fellow Republicans Dr. Eugene DeMarzo and Jim Wendell. She said she was upset with another resident who recently stated that all she heard from Calvano were “sound bites and buzzwords.”

“I’ve heard real answers to real questions,” she said of Calvano.

She said a resident asked Calvano where she has been since her council term ended, since Calvano did not begin attending meetings again for a while. Santamarino said being in attendance is no measure of a candidate’sworth or knowledge. She said she feels the Republicans will listen to residents’problems and provide good leadership.

Alyson Steinberg said she does not know the candidates personally, but followed them through debates, mailers and other communications. This is an especially important time for strong leadership in East Brunswick, and she said she feels Stahl is the best choice to lead the town through “rocky times.” She said Stahl has the education and experience to best help the township, and that he has outlined reasonable plans to deal with the challenges the township faces.

Another resident, Madeline Molinari, said she, too, supports Stahl and his team, which includes Nancy Pinkin and Denise Contrino. She said Stahl has the expertise the township needs.

One resident read a newspaper editorial that gave numerous reasons why Stahl should be the next mayor. And another said the Republicans have only concerned themselves with criticism and placing blame on others.

Steinberg said she has neighbors who spoke with Stahl before he announced his candidacy, and they felt he listened and was concerned with the problems they brought to him. Steinberg said she felt that both Calvano and Stahl have been listening to what residents have to say, and that she would like to see Calvano back on the council because she is a “voice of dissent.” She said that without Calvano, the council is driving a car with all its mirrors turned the same way.

“The voice of the public is the crux of a democratic society,” she said.

Ben DeMarzo, Eugene’s son, said the township needs new ideas to move forward, and that Calvano, while on the council, stood against profligate spending. He also said his father took the time to question Gov. Jon Corzine about his plan to raise tolls when he appeared in East Brunswick earlier this year. He said Democrats, however, were silent. Ben DeMarzo said Republicans would cut spending to stop taxes from rising, and refrain from selling assets, as well as avoid behindthe scenes deals.