ROBBINSVILLE: Two file for one open council seat

By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
   ROBBINSVILLE — There will be a contested Township Council race on Nov. 6 now that two residents have filed nominating petitions to run for the unexpired term of former Councilman Rich Levesque, who resigned last month.
   The two candidates are former Councilman Dave Boyne, who lost his 2011 re-election bid by 26 votes, and current Councilman Dennis Shennard who was appointed to the governing body on an interim basis at the last council meeting.
   Both men filed the necessary paperwork by Tuesday’s deadline to secure a place on the ballot. The winner of the election will serve the remainder of Mr. Levesque’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2015.
   Robbinsville has a nonpartisan form of township government in which candidates are nominated by voter petition, not political parties. Although they are running for office without identifying party labels, Mr. Shennard and Mr. Boyne are both registered Republicans, according to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office.
   Mr. Boyne, 59, a 22-year township resident and the CFO of a national transportation company, said he wants to see more government transparency and, if elected, will focus his efforts on commercial development and controlling taxes.
   ”Particularly in these economic times, residents are concerned with taxes and would like more focus, discussion and debate on municipal budgets,” Mr. Boyne said in a prepared statement on Tuesday.
   Mr. Shennard, 42, a landscaping contractor and 15-year township resident, served for five years on the township’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, including a term as chairman, before stepping down to take the interim council seat.
   ”I’m running on controlling property taxes and the need to bring more smart, economic growth to this township,” Mr. Shennard said on Tuesday.
   Asked about the prospect of running in a contested election against a former councilman, Mr. Shennard said, “I am looking forward to it.”
   Mr. Boyne, who sometimes clashed with the administration and colleagues about municipal spending items and budgetary matters during his six years on the council, lost his re-election bid to then-newcomer Ron Witt in a divisive election that split the council’s political loyalties.
   Mr. Boyne ran as a ticket with Mr. Levesque and Councilwoman Chris Ciaccio, while Mr. Witt, who is now the council president, ran with the backing of Mayor Dave Fried and council members Vince Calcagno and Sheree McGowan.