by Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — Political novices usually downplay that status.
Not so with Lance Brown and Miguel Edwards, who say it will only help them bring more open government to the township.
”We want to bring politics back to what it is supposed to be about – citizens who have no vested interests,” said Mr. Edwards, a 32-year-old resident of Robbinsville-Edinburgh Road.
”At this level of government, the less experience and the less ties you have, the better you’re able to represent the constituency,” he added.
”It is a plus,” said Mr. Brown of their political newcomer roles. “We’re not tied down to anybody.”
The two men last week announced their candidacy for the two seats up for grabs on the Township Council in the May 12 nonpartisan election. They face former Mayor Vince Calcagno and Planning Board Chairwoman Sheree McGowan, who formally announced their intention to run last month on the “Proven Community Service” slate.
The two seats are currently held by Sonja Walter, who is challenging Mayor Dave Fried in the upcoming election, and William Lesniak, who is not seeking re-election.
In their first press release, Messrs. Brown and Edwards say their campaign will focus on “creating greater public accountability, fiscal integrity and transparency in town government, easing the property tax burden, and preserving Robbinsville’s small-town character.”
Mr. Brown says the way Ms. Walter is treated as an often-dissenting voice on the council is a clear example of the lack of transparency being employed.
”We have a situation right now where our own council member, Sonja, requested information about finances and she was told she has to file an OPRA document to get it,” said the 38-year-old attorney who lives on Sylvia Way. “She should have unfettered access. What do they have to hide?”
Mr. Edwards said, “I would invite any citizen to ask for a copy of the budget and see what it takes to make that happen.”
”There’s no magic potion to lower property taxes but what we want is for folks at least to know where the money is going,” he added.
The two men, in their press release, say they would “ensure that town financial information, including the budget and expenditures, is transparent and online for public inspection.”
Mr. Edwards said Mr. Calcagno and Ms. McGowan are “very closely aligned” with Mayor Fried and “would just perpetuate” a lack of transparency.
Mr. Brown is an attorney in private practice in Hamilton, and points out that he has run his own business for 12 years. [vmo: sentence easily cut for space: ]He is a member of the New Jersey Association for Justice, whose mission is to protect the rights of New Jersey families. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and law degree from Rutgers University and a master’s of law in taxation from Villanova.
He is married and has three children, and has lived in Robbinsville for 10 years.
Mr. Edwards is a technology director for Willis North America, a global insurance brokerage in New York City. He serves on the Robbinsville Affordable Housing Committee and Robbinsville Sesquicentennial Committee. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Metropolitan College and his master’s in business administration from Rider University.
He has lived in Robbinsville since 2004 with his wife and four children.

