By Joanne Degnan, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The three incumbents running for re-election to the Township Council filed their nominating petitions Monday that, once certified, will officially place them on the ballot in Robbinsville’s nonpartisan May 10 election.
Council Vice President Rich Levesque, of Garden Place; David Boyne, of Barto Way; and Christine Ciaccio, of Route 130, are running as a slate under the slogan “Moving Robbinsville Forward.” Council terms are for four years.
Township Municipal Clerk Michele Seigfried now must verify that the candidates’ petitions have the requisite signatures of at least 85 registered Robbinsville voters in order for the candidates’ names to be placed on the ballot.
Ms. Ciaccio collected 109 signatures, Mr. Levesque collected 115 and Mr. Boyne collected 112, said Ms. Seigfried, who as of press time had not yet officially certified that all the petition signers were registered voters.
As of early Monday, no other residents had filed nominating petitions yet to run for the seats, Ms. Seigfried said. The deadline for filing is 4 p.m. March 14.
”I believe that Dave, Chris and I have been advocates for all of the residents of Robbinsville Township,” Mr. Levesque said in a campaign statement. “We have a lot more work to accomplish and with the plan and vision we will be laying out in the coming weeks, we believe we have what it takes to lead the township forward in the next four years.”
Mr. Levesque, who has served on the council since 2008, is its liaison to the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Municipal Alliance on the Prevention of Substance Abuse, which he started in 2009. Mr. Levesque is employed as director of public outreach and political affairs at Insight Consulting Services, a Trenton lobbying firm, and is vice president of Insight’s affiliated firm in Washington, D.C., Patriotic Consulting LLC. A Town Center resident, Mr. Levesque also is Robbinsville’s Republican municipal chairman.
Mr. Boyne has served on the Township Council since 2005 and is its liaison to the township Planning Board, Board of Education and Recreation Committee. Mr. Boyne has more than three decades’ experience as an auditor, accountant and senior financial adviser and is the current CFO of Home Delivery America, a national transportation company. He and his wife, Carol, have lived in Robbinsville for more than 20 years and have two children.
Ms. Ciaccio has served on the council since 2007 and is its liaison to the Open Space Advisory Committee and the Planning Board’s historic preservation advisory subcommittee. Prior to being elected to the council, she served on the zoning board for 14 years and founded the Washington Township Business Association. A township resident for 29 years, Ms. Ciaccio owns Tony’s Farm and Garden Center on Route 130. She and her husband, Tom, have two grown children.
Ms. Ciaccio said she intended to work with local and state officials to help Robbinsville retain its existing businesses and attract new ones to the Route 130 corridor through “innovative incentive programs.”
”As a business owner in Robbinsville, I know firsthand how difficult this economy has been on our residents and our local business owners,” she said.
Mr. Boyne said that open space preservation aimed at increasing recreational opportunities was a priority, along with “smart, responsible economic development” that will increase the township’s ratable base and stabilize taxes.
Mr. Levesque said the designation of the Town Center South parcels last year as an area in need of redevelopment means that residents need council members who have a clear vision for Robbinsville’s future.
”Dave Boyne, Chris Ciaccio and I have shown that leadership over the past few years and look forward to leading the town as it continues to grow and prosper,” Mr. Levesque said.
April 19 is the last day to register to vote in the May 10 election. The candidates who win in May take the oath of office at the Township Council’s annual July 1 reorganization meeting.
