Pari Stave won’t seek re-election
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
CRANBURY — The deadline to register for primary elections came and went, leaving the two Republican candidates poised and ready for the coming campaign season and the Democratic Party without any candidates.
Republican candidates Jay Taylor and Dan Mulligan, two Cranbury residents who’ve become regular faces at the township’s municipal meetings, have been vying for the two open three-year committee seats since February when they announced their intent to run.
Democratic incumbent Mayor Pari Stave, who has served three consecutive terms, said she does not plan to run for re-election as she hopes to leave the committee on a high note.
”The town is in excellent shape,” she said in an e-mail. “Looking back on the past 10 years or so, we have realized many of the township’s major goals: open space and farmland preservation; historic preservation as a shared value; stewardship of parks, open land and stream corridors; a stable municipal tax rate and an excellent bond rating; open communications (Web site and taped meetings); and expanded community services.
”Some people complain, but my own feeling is that we are lucky to live in the best of all possible worlds, and I am lucky to have played a part in carrying out our community objectives.”
Mayor Stave’s decision has left the local Democratic Party chairman, Glenn Johnson, out recruiting write-in candidates.
”Generally speaking, we didn’t have (any)one in time for the filing deadline,” Mr. Johnson said. “There are people we are talking to.”
Mr. Johnson said many of the potential candidates that had previously been approached were “leery of the time commitments” that would accompany the job.
Although unaffiliated incumbent Committeeman Tom Panconi has until the day of the primary to register with the county clerk, he, too, has announced his decision not to run in an effort to make room for new blood.
”I’ve put in six years,” he said. “For me, that’s enough time. This allows someone else to get on the Township Committee.”
In order for its campaign to succeed, the Democratic Party must have at least three write-in votes for each of its chosen candidates during primary elections.
The primary is scheduled for June 2.

