By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
Councilwoman Sherri Lynn has decided not to run again for Borough Council, and a four-way race for two three-year terms is shaping up for the fall.
Three candidates were interested in running, and Ms. Lynn’s spot on the ticket will be taken by Susan Horensky-Star, who ran last fall. Councilman Richard Onderko will be the other Republican candidate.
Filing for the Democrats were former Councilman Lou Fischer, who fell about 10 votes short in last fall’s bid for a second term, and Ronald Skirkanish.
Ms. Lynn, who will be a one-term councilwoman, said she was “taking some time off to pursue other interests.” In two of her three years, she was elected the council president.
Stephen Rodzinak applied for the GOP’s endorsement, but he didn’t attend Friday night. He wanted the party backing last year, but did not show up then, according to Rudy Nowak, the borough Republican chairman.
Mr. Fischer is a lifelong borough resident, graduating from Manville High in 1978. He is employed by a media and printing firm in Hillsborough.
In recent months, he has spearheaded an effort to raise funds for a digital community sign in front of the high school. In his campaign last fall, he ballyhooed his work for a new park on North 10th Avenue as well as increased recreational funding generally.
Mr. Skirkanish, who has lived in Manville for most of his life, ran unsuccessfully for council in 2008 with Mr. Fischer and again in 2009. He said in his 2009 run he first became interested in running for council after the April 2007 nor’easter. He became a member of a new flood committee in 2009.
He is a union carpenter and Lost Valley flood victim, Mayor Angelo Corradino said.
Republicans endorsed their candidates Friday night at the American Legion.
Mr. Onderko said, “I am passionate about the Republican Party. I just want to say it is party first with me. Don’t ever doubt that I don’t support the party in town or the candidates that run on the county level and, more importantly, our federal level.”
He rated his first term on council as “pretty good,” doing more and missing only one council meeting to date.
”I am a fiscally conservative, responsible person, and that’s how I live my life,” he said. “One thing that concerns me about the borough is the property taxes. The spending has got to stop. It is not business as usual — not 1992 all over again — and the economy has changed. We need to think differently in ways to save.”
He said he got involved for two reasons: property taxes and flooding.
”I have lived here my whole life and spent 25 years in a flood zone on Second Avenue, and I don’t wish that on anyone in this town,” he said. “I don’t know what to say anymore. The town is being destroyed right before our eyes, and no one cares. It doesn’t seem like anyone cares.”
He added, “I want to have at least one more term on council as I am a big fan of term limits, and I believe this would be my last term on council, and I will give it my all.”
Ms. Star said she served on council in 1999, and “it was a big eye opener because I was not going to vote just what (I) was told to vote,” she said. “I always voted my conscience, and I was the only one at times who voted no, but I was able to sleep at night.”
She added, “I am who I am. I am not fake. I care about this town. I grew up in this town, and we need to take this town back . . . We need to make decisions that are right for this town.”
County Clerk Brett Radi and Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, both of whom are running as Republicans for re-election, attended Friday’s party meeting. Mr. Radi spoke briefly and predicted a busy ballot with races for president down to school board elections.
Chairman Nowak appointed a campaign committee of Susan Asher as the chairperson, Sharon Onderko as secretary, Mike Kassick and himself.
