By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — There’s a new face on the dais of the West Windsor Township Council.
Diane Ciccone of Penn Lyle Road was selected by council at its meeting Thursday night to fill the position vacated by Will Anklowitz last month, following his nomination to the state Superior Court. Under state statute, council was required to fill the seat within 30 days or leave it vacant until the general elections in November.
Ms. Ciccone, an attorney with a private practice in New York City, has lived in West Windsor for nine years. She has a long resume of community volunteer participation, including her service as an alternate member of the Planning Board since 2006. She also participates in the Affordable Housing Committee, the West Windsor Arts Council, the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, and the Sustainability Subcommittee.
She has also volunteered with parent groups in the community, she said. Her only daughter now attends Colgate University.
”This is someone who has a commitment to volunteering in her community,” Councilwoman Heidi Kleinman said of her nomination.
Ms. Ciccone was selected from nine remaining candidates for the council seat after two rounds of voting. In the first round, she was nominated along with Andrew Hersh.
Mr. Hersh, 34, promised during his council interview last week to build bridges between segments of the community. He also offered his financial expertise as a vice president of Marsh & McLennan, a consulting firm in risk, strategy and human capital. He has lived in the township for three and a half years with his wife and son.
Votes were cast as a secret ballot. Two motions, one by Council President Charlie Morgan and another by Councilwoman Linda Geevers, to make the vote transparent were defeated.
Ms. Kleinman objected to the motions, saying that she wanted to test the system to replace a council member set up two years ago after extensive discussion.
”Charlie, you were extremely vocal in setting up this system,” she said.
Council members wrote their selection on a piece of paper, which was handed to the clerk, who read the results aloud.
The first vote failed, with two votes for Ms. Ciccone, one vote for Mr. Hersh and one abstention. The two candidates were again nominated in the second round, and Ms. Ciccone prevailed with three votes and one abstention.
Ms. Ciccone will serve until the general election in November, when a candidate will be elected to serve the remainder of Mr. Anklowitz’s term, until June 30, 2011.
During her council interview, Ms. Ciccone said she offered her analytical and listening skills to build a consensus on council and create a plan of action. She would also work to actively engage the public in the township’s business, she said.
”I would like for us to use the latest technology to keep residents updated on the news of our town,” she said.
Ms. Ciccone added that she sees the redevelopment plan as a “mini master plan” that will take many years to implement. The plan is an important step to direct the future of the township, she said, and developers will work with the township to develop its vision.
”The developers don’t live here, we do, and we are charged with doing what’s best for the town,” she said.
She said she intends to run for the rest of Mr. Anklowitz’s term in November if she proves to be a productive member of council. She was defeated in a bid for council in 2007.
