By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO Four candidates filed petitions on April 1 to run in the primary election, but longtime Committeeman Michael Weaver was not one of them.
After 14 years on the Township Committee, Mr. Weaver has decided not to run for re-election mainly because he won’t be in Plainsboro much longer. Mr. Weaver recently retired from his job and is in the process of moving to a resort community in North Carolina with his wife.
”I’m going to miss it; this township has been a very warm and friendly place to live and raise a family,” said Mr. Weaver, a 29-year resident. “But we feel it’s time for us to move on to another stage in our lives.”
However, he expressed confidence in the current committee members as well as those seeking office.
”We made a lot of significant accomplishments over the past 14 years and the township has come a long way in terms of development,” he added. “Now is a good time for me to step down.”
However, that’s not the case for incumbent Ed Yates, another longtime committee member. Mr. Yates has served 15 years on the committee and is running for another three-year term. Joining him on the Democratic ticket is David Bander, who also filed a petition by the 4 p.m. deadline.
They will be up against Republicans Matthew Greenberg and Jordan Smith.
Election season is just getting started, but one thing is certain: Mr. Weaver’s departure means that at least one newcomer will join the rest on the dais once the dust has settled from the general election in November. That person will be the newest face on the committee since Committeeman Nuran Nabi was initially elected in 2007. In last year’s election, Democrats Mr. Nabi and Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis won by a landslide against Republicans Marjorie Doyle Lyons and Krishna Jagannathan.
This year, the primary election will be held on June 4 and the general election is on Nov. 5.
