WEST WINDSOR: Borek chosen as new Township Council president

By Charley Falkenburg, Special to the Packet
   WEST WINDSOR — The Township Council switched it up on Jan. 7 by making George Borek its new council president and Kristina Samonte its vice president to guide it in the New Year.
   After an immediate nomination by Kamal Khanna and a unanimous vote by council, Mr. Borek was elected. After he was sworn in by Township Clerk Sharon Young, Mr. Khanna, the former council president, handed him the official gavel and Mr. Borek took his new seat in the center of the dais.
   ”I intend to devote 110 percent of my time to working with the council, administration and the public,” said Mr. Borek. “Sometimes frustrations get the best of us, but the best intent I have is to do the best for West Windsor and the people we serve.”
   Ms. Samonte had to work a little harder for her title by beating out former council vice president Linda Geevers. Mr. Khanna nominated Ms. Samonte, Councilman Bryan Maher nominated Ms. Geevers and since both women wanted the role, they each had to make a case as to why she deserved it.
   Ms. Geevers said this was her eighth year on council and she always lets the other council members know what she’s thinking, while Ms. Samonte thought her diligent, fair and transparent work she has accomplished on council would serve her well in the leadership position.
   Mr. Maher said both were qualified, but thought that to maintain the nature of the town’s nonpartisan government, Ms. Geevers would better serve as Mr. Borek’s counterpart.
   ”In the spirit of nonpartisanship, it’s only right for Linda to serve that role,” said Mr. Maher. “To not do so, shows a level of partisanship the community doesn’t want to see.”
   Ultimately, Ms. Samonte won with a 3-2 vote and was sworn in by Ms. Young.
   While Mr. Borek served as council president a couple of years ago, this is a first for Ms. Samonte, who is just starting her second year in her first term on council.
   In addition to vice president, Ms. Samonte was elected and re-sworn in as an Affordable Housing Committee member and was selected as the liaison for the Parking Authority. The council also made Mr. Borek the Emergency Management liaison, Mr. Maher the Zoning Board liaison and Ms. Geevers the liaison for both the Environmental Commission and Board of Education.
   Mr. Khanna expressed optimism with the new arrangement.
   ”Under the new leadership, great things will happen in 2013,” added Mr. Khanna, who was also sworn in that evening as a member of the Planning Board Class III.
   However, Marshall Lerner, the president of the Republican’s Club, was concerned that not only the council, but the mayoral-appointed members on various town committees and commissions were not equally representing both parties.
   ”You’re very capable George, that’s not my issue,” he told the new council president. “My issue is fairness and representation and it’s lacking. It’s emblematic of how this administration runs the town.”
   He began to fire off names of committees such as Affordable Housing, the Planning Board and Environmental Commission that he alleged were virtually devoid of Republicans.
   Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh denounced the allegation on Wednesday, stating he goes by qualifications, not party affiliation when making appointments to boards and commissions.
   After looking into the accusation, the mayor was able to confirm there were two Republicans and one independent on the Planning Board and that the chairs for Affordable Housing, the Parking Authority and the Shade Tree Committee were all Republican.
   ”But it doesn’t matter — I never check for their political affiliation,” added Mayor Hsueh. “I’m embarrassed to ask people what their party affiliation is — it’s just like how you never ask about their religions.”