MANVILLE: Primary voters to settle ballot in June 2 battle

By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   Democratic Borough Council members Ken Otrimski and Ted Petrock, facing a primary battle from Joe Lukac and Ron Skirkanish, say they feel they have been “Pearl Harbored” by their own party, while candidates on the Republican side also line up for a June 2 battle.
   Normally, Manville’s party-sanctioned candidates for the council don’t face primary challenges, but this year’s election looks to set a new precedent with challenges on both sides for the two available three-year terms.
   Officially, Mr. Lukac, a member of the Board of Education and head of the Manville Democratic municipal organization, and Mr. Skirkanish say they are just trying to offer residents a choice.
   In the Republican primary are former Councilwoman Kathy Quick, of South Bridge Street, and Sherri Lynn, of Washington Avenue, who are backed by the local Republican organization, and Rich Onderko, of Louis Street.
   Unfortunately, this competition, at least in the Democratic primary, initially came as a shock.
   ”We’ve always known that it’s a courtesy to let the incumbents run,” said Mr. Otrimski, who is running for his third term on the council. “And we were not told that we had done anything wrong. But we will do what we need to do.”
   According to Mr. Otrimski, he informed members of the Democratic organization he did intend to run again for his council seat as had Mr. Petrock, who is hoping for a fourth term.
   ”But nobody talked to us,” Mr. Otrimski said.
   For Mr. Skirkanish, although he is looking to have a second opportunity to run for council after losing by 63 votes in the 2008 elections, he said it is about providing residents with another option.
   ”It’s about new ideas,” he said. “People want change, and that’s what (I’m) offering.”
   Mr. Lukac said he and Mr. Skirkanish spoke to residents around town in November about their possible candidacy in the 2009 elections. Many residents, Mr. Lukac said, wanted to have a choice in the primaries.
   ”A lot of people wanted a choice to be offered this year,” he said. “This decision was based on talking to Democrats around town. That was the main thing.”
   While it is true the organizations normally support the incumbents, Mr. Lukac said, he just wanted to offer residents the option of voting for someone else this year.
   ”They knew (Mr. Skirkanish) was going to run,” he said. “And I had mentioned it. But at this point, we take it as a choice.”
   Still, Mr. Skirkanish said he has nothing against his fellow Democratic incumbents. He would just like another opportunity to run for the office.
   ”I came so close last year,” he said. “I am offering the choice again. (I’m) not against (Mr. Otrimski and Mr. Petrock). I’m just offering another choice. It will be whatever the voters want.”
   Mr. Lukac agreed, saying if he and Mr. Skirkanish do not win in the primaries, they will throw full support behind the incumbents.
   For Mr. Petrock, it is just about doing what is best for the town and refusing to play any “political games.”
   ”We’re going to vote for who is the best and what’s best for those running the town,” he said. “I’m not a politician, I am in a political office.”
   If he does win in the November election, Mr. Lukac said, he will be required to resign from his Board of Education position, which he was elected to in April 2008.
   ”If I get elected in November, by law, I will have to resign,” he said. “I do love the Board of Education, but it would be a conflict of interest. And as a councilman, I can help the schools, also.”
   In the Republican primaries, Mr. Onderko is running against Ms. Quick and her running mate, Ms. Lynn.
   Ms. Quick, who was asked to run again on the Republican ticket after losing her bid for re-election last year, is hoping to have the opportunity to improve leadership on the Borough Council.
   ”It seems very disorganized and reactionary now,” she said. “Everyone seems to govern to the front row. I think I could help with that.”
   Ms. Quick said she has enough experience with the county and her previous time on the Borough Council to understand what Manville needs and how to go about getting things done.
   ”A few people have to take a stand,” she said. “And I know what I’m doing (in government).”
   In addition, Ms. Quick said, she favors term limits in the council and allowing positions, such as council presidents, to change often.
   ”I think people get too comfortable and listen to special interest groups,” she said. “They get worried about getting re-elected.”
   Ms. Quick’s running mate, Ms. Lynn, said she believes it is time for a change to help Manville improve.
   ”If Manville wants to move forward, we have to change the way we do business,” Ms. Lynn said. “We want to bring pride back to Manville, and I would like to be part of the solution, part of the change.”
   According to Ms. Lynn, who has served on the Planning Board and is a former president of the Manville Rescue Squad, one of the biggest changes she would like to make is with the borough’s Web site.
   ”It is very outdated,” she said. “Some people are too busy to come to council meetings. It would be nice to have the Web site. There is so much that can be put on the Web site to attract people to the town.”
   In addition, Ms. Lynn said she would like additional action to be taken on a graffiti ordinance. She said she applauds the council for initially looking into it, but knows more can be done to allow people to take pride in the town.
   For Mr. Onderko, who lost a bid for a seat as an independent candidate in 2008, running for council this year is about being able to bring change to the town. Among the issues he finds most important, he said, are working for flood prevention, improving ordinances, maintaining a “pay as you go, no-debt capital improvement plan” and, like Ms. Lynn, having an improved Web site.
   ”I am running for council as a Republican candidate to help and work with my mayor to fulfill her three main campaign promises of more open communication with residents, bringing flood protection for our town similar to Bound Brook and working towards closure on the Grant property (the lot at the corner of Main Street and Kyle Avenue recently foreclosed on by the borough) and see to it that it never happens again,” he said.
   Mr. Onderko said he also is against deferring the town’s pension payments for 2009 and wants to ensure the town does not incur any more debt.
   ”Voters have a good choice for council since I have no special interests in padding my current salary or receiving a free health care policy at taxpayer expense,” he said. “I will work for taxpayers to help keep taxes low so we can all afford to live here in the years ahead.”
   With both the Republican and the Democratic nominations contested in this year’s primaries, Ms. Lynn said she is just pleased more people are trying to get involved.
   ”I am glad folks are showing an interest in doing something, rather than complaining,” she said. “Anyone whose name is out there and is willing to effect change, I will stand behind. With the right team, Manville can come back around.”