By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Mayoral and council candidates sparred over redevelopment and taxes yesterday in the first public debate of the township’s municipal election campaign.
Incumbent Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh is being challenged in the May 12 election by council President Charlie Morgan and newcomer Pete Weale.
There also are two council seats on the ballot. Councilwoman Linda Geevers is running with Kamal Khanna and Mayor Hsueh on the “West Windsor First” slate, and Nitin Shah and Anupam Gupta are running with Mr. Morgan on the “Best 4 West Windsor” slate.
The debate, held at 10 a.m. Monday in the municipal building, was moderated by Ronald Slinn, leader of the West Windsor Retirees’ Group, which sponsored the event.
Mayor Hsueh defended his record in office by pointing to $43 million in outside funding the township has received from the state during his tenure, specifically mentioning the Alexander Road Bridge project and the restoration of Grovers Mill Pond.
He also described his background as an immigrant, arriving in the country in 1969 with little money in his pocket. He said he’s proud of the opportunities he’s had to give back to West Windsor where he has lived for 24 years.
”It’s really my honor to serve the community,” he said.
Mayor Hsueh has served as mayor since 2000 and was a council member for seven years.
Mr. Morgan, who has served on the council for 10 years, said he will continue to be a strong advocate for residents.
”I stand for lower taxes… I stand for parking garages — now,” Mr. Morgan said.
Describing himself as always accessible by telephone, Mr. Morgan said he will continue to listen to residents on quality of life issues in order to improve health and safety in the township.
”I’m all action, not just talk,” he said.
Residents had a chance to learn more about Mr. Weale, who has never held public office.
”I am Mr. Less Government, Mr. Quality of Life,” he said during his opening statements.
He pointed to his opponents’ combined experience in the township’s government and the township projects that have not been completed.
”Out of those last 10 and 16 years my opponents have been in office, how many years have your taxes gone down?” Mr. Weale asked.
The candidates were asked to address the problem of increasing taxes, making it difficult for residents, particularly seniors, to continue to live in the township.
Mayor Hsueh said it’s important to examine the impact of such decisions over the short and long term. The recent economy has made the task of managing the township’s finances more challenging, he said.
”This is an economy we never really experienced in the past 70 years,” he said.
However, he said his goal is for the township to have the lowest municipal tax rate in the county. He also said he would continue to support a push for property tax reform at the state level.
Mr. Morgan said he is calling for a 12.1-percent tax reduction, which would equal 4 cents of the municipal tax rate. In order to bring taxes down, the township should reduce the amount it keeps as surplus reserve, he said.
”Right now, we’re holding way more taxes than we should be holding,” Mr. Morgan said.
Mr. Morgan also said he would like to see a fully transparent nonprofit organization that would bring in donations from the private sector to fund township charities. He also said the foundation should not have any elected officials on the board of trustees, referencing the nonprofit West Windsor Community Foundation.
In response, Mayor Hsueh said although he served as an advisor to the foundation, he did not direct it.
”I stay out of the operation, and I stay out of any decision-making process,” he said.
Mr. Weale proposed specific cuts to pare down the township budget, including eliminating employee overtime, increasing employees’ contribution to their health care and cutting garbage collection to once per week.
He also said he would use his business experience, which includes an MBA and work for Fortune 500 companies, to make people accountable and reduce government costs.
The candidates were asked to weigh in on the controversial redevelopment plan, adopted by the Township Council last month, set to bring a mix of housing and commercial space to the train station area.
Mayor Hsueh said it would “ensure the township is in control, not developers,” and he would never vote for a development in the area that would be a tax burden on residents. He also said the redevelopment plan gives the township the ability to work with outside agencies to solve its traffic congestion problems.
”The best way to deal with traffic problems is to work with the county and work with the state,” he said. “There’s no other way.”
Mr. Morgan, who was the only council member to vote against the redevelopment plan, said the redevelopment plan puts the burden of the region’s transportation needs on West Windsor. With the approval, the township lost its bargaining power with the state to fund necessary infrastructure improvements, he said.
”Why would you pass a plan that is dead on arrival?” he said.
Mr. Weale questioned the need for more housing in the township.
”I don’t think we need any more housing to compete against the future sale of my house and your house,” he said.
He also said he’s concerned about the “glut” of commercial space in West Windsor as well as the bleak outlook for retail.
Mr. Weale also cautioned the “bankrupt” state should not be counted on to provide infrastructure funding for the redevelopment plan. Instead, the township should focus on its own revenues and expenditures in order to manage its budget properly.
”Your promises from the state are worthless,” he said.
Redevelopment also continued to be a top issue in the candidates’ debate that followed.
Mr. Shah and Mr. Gupta both took a strong stand against the redevelopment plan passed by the Township council last month. Mr. Gupta said the “flawed” plan favors developers, and it was approved against the wishes of the majority of residents. The housing element of the plan will fundamentally change the township into a big city, according to both candidates.
”We came here for suburban charm, not to build a big city,” Mr. Gupta said.
He encouraged those in the audience to read the redevelopment plan that was approved by the council.
”Take a look at it,” he said. “You’d be scared.”
In response, Mr. Khanna and Ms. Geevers pointed to the plan itself, which calls for less than 500 housing units, though it leaves open the potential for developers to negotiate for more housing with the township.
Mr. Khanna said that in his campaign, he has seen there is a lot of confusion in the township about the redevelopment plan and what it actually contains.
”The plan calls for 487 houses, and that’s it so far,” he said.
Ms. Geevers said additional housing would have to be approved by the council, and every site plan will have to submit a fiscal impact analysis. She also pointed to the input from various community groups that was incorporated into the redevelopment plan before its adoption.
”This plan became more of the people’s plan,” she said.
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