A newcomer is challenging two incumbents for one of two Township Committee seats up for election on Nov. 5.
By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — A newcomer is challenging two incumbents for one of two Township Committee seats up for election on Nov. 5.
Matt Greenberg is vying for one of the seats currently occupied by incumbents David Bander and Ed Yates.
Mr. Greenberg has lived in Plainsboro for 18 years, since he was born.
”I am currently a student at the Rutgers Business School, and I live with my parents — Jack Greenberg and Laura Nash — and my two brothers, Bennett and Stephen. During high school, I worked for West Windsor Plainsboro Community Education as an after school assistant, as well as a few other jobs.”
Mr. Greenberg said he decided to run for office because he believes that Plainsboro needs new members on the Township Committee to bring in new ideas and common sense changes.
”The current incumbents have served Plainsboro for years, and while I respect their service, I think too much of any one party’s ideals can stall progress,” Mr. Greenberg said. “If I do get elected, I plan to work with everyone on the Township Committee to bring bipartisan and common sense solutions to the problems facing Plainsboro.”
Mr. Bander was a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Development Review Committee prior to being appointed to the Township Committee earlier this year.
”I am currently a staff representative at 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and prior to that I served as the chief of staff to state Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro),” Mr. Bander said.
Mr. Bander said he decided to run for Township Committee because he and his wife are devoted to Plainsboro and plan to raise a family in the township.
Mr. Yates, who has been a member of both the Township Committee and the Planning Board for the past 16 years, is a senior project manager at Kanta Electric Corp and a 35-year member of the local IBEW 31 union.
”I have lived in Plainsboro for 27 years and have raised five children in this town and I take a great deal of pride in Plainsboro Township and am extremely proud of the way this town has emerged from a rural farming community to a highly recognized suburban community,” he said.
”Two projects that I want to see complete are the redevelopment of the old FMC site, which is the site of the new Princeton University Medical Center at Plainsboro and the repair/reconstruction of the Schalks Crossing Road Railroad Bridge.”
The candidates were asked about their vision for the future of Plainsboro.
Mr. Greenberg’s vision is to keep Plainsboro very much the same way it is now — a tight knit community with excellent schools, a variety of retail businesses, an excellent community library, community services, and most importantly, a large amount of open space.
”However, I would also like to see more businesses in Plainsboro, especially a grocery store, and I believe this could be accomplished without hurting the current Plainsboro way of life,” Mr. Greenberg said.
Mr. Bander’s vision is to keep Plainsboro a great place to live and work.
”Over time, we have achieved an appealing mixture of retail development, a community focused Village Center, and an extensive network of parks and open space,” Mr. Bander said. “This balance has led Plainsboro to be recognized as one of the state’s best planned communities. We have done this while maintaining the lowest municipal tax rate and the highest bond rating in Middlesex County.”
Mr. Yates said, “Plainsboro is a town that for many years has adhered to a comprehensive master plan that has included the right mix of residential development, economic development, and open space preservation. This plan will assure that our residents will enjoy a quality of life that is rivaled by many other townships across the state and nation.”
The candidates were asked about what they consider to be the town’s most pressing issues.
Mr. Greenberg sees the most pressing issues facing Plainsboro as rising property taxes, lack of a grocery store and other businesses, and lack of a single waste collector.
”Rising property taxes and a lack of a grocery store go hand in hand — the current zoning regulations make it very difficult for any business to open in Plainsboro, and as a result, Plainsboro is losing commercial tax revenue,” Mr. Greenberg said. “If the Township Committee were to ease up on some of the oppressive regulations, more business would be in Plainsboro . . . and Plainsboro could reduce property taxes because more tax would be coming from businesses.”
An issue that Mr. Bander has heard residents talk about is improving Plainsboro Plaza.
”The Township Committee has been working with the new owners of Plainsboro Plaza to improve the center, and we have expressed our strong desire that they should vigorously pursue a new supermarket to replace Super Fresh,” Mr. Bander said.
Mr. Yates said, “Plainsboro is no longer a young and growing town it is now a maturing township and subsequently some of our infrastructure and assets are nearing the end of their life expectancy. Several major improvements and replacements projects have begun or are completed, such as, the new library, the new recreation center and ongoing road improvements in numerous developments.”
To keep Plainsboro affordable, Mr. Greenberg said the township must reduce property taxes.
”It is very simple,” Mr. Greenberg said. “Allow more businesses to enter the vacant lots in Plainsboro by reducing unnecessary regulations, and then collect tax revenue from these businesses. This will allow for a reduction in property tax rates, which will help keep Plainsboro affordable.”
Mr. Bander said, “One of our great achievements on the Township Committee is that Plainsboro has the lowest municipal tax rate and highest bond rating in Middlesex County. We have achieved this through strong financial management, pursuing outside funding and cooperative agreements, and attracting major ratables. We will continue to be good stewards of public money and faithfully represent our taxpayers.”
Mr. Yates said, “Plainsboro has the lowest tax rate and the highest bond rating in the county, this doesn’t happen by accident, it happens with leadership and strong fiscal management.”