Three incumbents, all Democrats, kept their seats on council after defeating their Republican challengers Tuesday.
By Jen Samuel, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — Three incumbents, all Democrats, kept their seats on council after defeating their Republican challengers Tuesday.
According to the unofficial election results from Mercer County, 17,385 votes were cast in the Township Council race. The seats are for four-year terms.
Deputy Mayor Alan Rosenberg won 3,301 votes, or 18.99 percent.
”It’s very gratifying to be given another opportunity to serve the people of East Windsor on this very dedicated council,” Mr. Rosenberg said.
Councilman Perry Shapiro won 3,248 votes, or 18.68 percent.
Councilman Hector Duke won 3,101 votes, or 17.84 percent.
Anna Lustenberg received 2,662 votes, or 15.31 percent.
”Wow, we were close,” Ms. Lustenberg said Nov. 7. “I’m so proud of our showing and that we were reaching residents with our message.”
Albert Grupper received 2,556 votes, or 14.7 percent.
Thaddeus “TJ” Berdzik received 2,508 votes, or 14.43 percent.
Wednesday Mr. Berdzik said, “I believe that there is a growing recognition that our council needs balance, a diversity of ideas, and greater transparency of council activities.
Mr. Rosenberg, re-elected to his fourth term, said, “My long term goals are to maintain as frugal a municipal budget as possible while maintaining the same high quality of municipal services.”
He said his three short-terms goals that he hopes to achieve during his next term are: to remain accessible to the people of East Windsor; to continue to maintain a very austere but effective budget; and to continue exploring ways to share services with neighboring communities.
East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov joined fellow Democrats in Mercer County at Stone Terrace in Hamilton Square on Nov. 5 alongside Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Shapiro. Cheers erupted in the ballroom when their victories were announced.
”We had excellent candidates who served the town extremely well,” Mayor Mironov said. “I’m delighted to continue to have the benefit of such caring individuals.”
She added she was grateful to the citizens of East Windsor for demonstrating confidence in her administration.
Approximately a dozen new businesses have opened in town since January. The mayor said Panera Bakery will open in the beginning of 2014.
”We are proactively outreaching for businesses,” Mayor Mironov said. “We do have a business friendly atmosphere.”
All three incumbents spoke of continuing to preserve land in East Windsor during the 2013 election season.
Thirty percent of East Windsor has been preserved under the administration’s watch through open space and farmland initiatives.
Mr. Shapiro told The Herald on election night that he was grateful to voters and added he would work with the administration to continue to keep East Windsor a great place to live.
”It’s good to feel we still have confidence and respect of the people of East Windsor,” Mr. Rosenberg said at the Stone Terrace. “We do a lot with a little.”
”They’re all really good,” Sen. Linda Greenstein said of the three East Windsor incumbents. The state senator also won her re-election campaign for the 14th District, which includes Hightstown and East Windsor.
Mr. Berdzik said he felt the Republican team performed well on Nov. 5. “Political change is generally not quick but can grow incrementally. “He said East Windsor’s voter registration equates to roughly 2.5 Democrats for every one Republican. “Despite this huge obstacle, the three Republicans running captured about 44 percent of the votes for council,” Mr. Berdzik said.
”There is a growing recognition that our current course is not sustainable and will require greater management of spending and alternative revenue streams.” He continued, “There is a growing recognition that our town must work to attract business and foster a business friendly environment, not run business owners out of town.”
Mr. Berdzik said running was not just about winning or losing but about raising ideas and concerns.
”Through this election cycle we’ve made several common sense suggestions such as a revamped website, posting council meeting materials online like other New Jersey towns, and (creating) a liaison to the school board.” Mr. Berdzik said. “None of these are expensive at all and would help our town increase operational transparency.”
”I am proud that I was given the chance to take part in our democratic process and had the potential opportunity to serve our community in another capacity,” Mr. Grupper said on Thursday. “Still the welcoming attitude of the voters to our message and their interest in the future of our township is inspiring. Needless to say, I am disappointed and had hoped for a more favorable outcome.”
Mr. Grupper said the Republican team learned from residents while campaigning that council should be addressing the need for more adequate recreation facilities, the safety and well-being of our youth and seniors, communication with and by the people, more inclusive representation, and the tax burden, which is driving many folks out of town.
”Some of the issues we raised during the campaign were addressed by the incumbents during the campaign season,” he said. “Now it is up to them to follow through and execute positive changes for the community.”
Mr. Berdzik said both sides ran fair campaigns on the issues.
”Local government should not be about Democrat vs. Republican but about ideas on how we can help our fellow residents and guide the town in the future,” Mr. Berdzik stated.
Of the opposing Republican team, Mr. Rosenberg said, “I thought all the candidates ran a fair and open campaign.”
Of the election Mr. Grupper said, “Our opponents worked very hard, were gentlemen, and their message touched many voters. The campaign did not involve personal attacks. The power of incumbency and the Democrat Party machine was on display here in many ways.”
”As the poets say, all’s fair in love and war,” Ms. Lustenberg said of the race for Township Council. “Our challengers are my friends and I genuinely like each one of them. I’ve shared their grief when they’ve lost loved ones and shared good fellowship with them at community events. I think both teams ran an issue-based campaign.”
Ms. Lustenberg continued, “However, on my team, each of us had key township issues that we developed and discussed. On the opposing side, there seemed to be just one voice coming through in their materials and there were no new ideas or visions.”
Mr. Berdzik said, “I believe that there is a growing recognition that our council needs balance, a diversity of ideas, and greater transparency of council activities.”
Mr. Berdzik said he may run again. He previously ran in 2011.
”I hope that Anna and Al will run again,” Mr. Berdzik stated. “Anna was on council in the 1990s and helped to bring us the Route 133 bypass. Anna spent her career working with Verizon, giving her the viewpoint of a large business that must consider the cost-benefits of investment in New Jersey towns. Al has been involved with local youth recreation for decades and wants to expand our youth recreation opportunities. Both would bring new ideas and experience.”
”Discussion of differing opinions and a positive result from those discussions are necessary parts of our government system,” Mr. Grupper stated. “New faces, new community leadership, and new ideas are always healthy. Stagnation is paralyzing.”
Mr. Grupper said he stands ready to serve if asked, however added that he felt the community needs “younger, more dynamic leadership to represent the thoughts of the next generation.”
”For now, the status quo has won the day,” Ms. Lustenberg said. “However there are a great many residents who feel it’s time for a change.”
She said she was proud creating and managing her team’s Facebook page, with input from her running mates and friends.
”We reached thousands of people,” Ms. Lustenberg said. “Not only was it fun to tell our story in words and photos, it gave us credibility that we know something about technology and 21st Century audiences.”
She said, “As a team, we accomplished a set of viable ideas for the future that would increase efficiencies, save money and improve township services.”
She added it was her hope that governing body would take the steps the Republican team suggested to make the township website more user friendly while adding effective microphones for council members at meeting.
”It’s difficult to have an open and transparent government if you cannot hear what’s being said,” she stated.
Ms. Lustenberg said she may run again.
In addition to thanking her my running mates, she gave thanks to township residents.
”I’d also like to thank Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno for her visit to East Windsor just before the election,” she said.
In addition to thanking his running mates, the voters, as well as family and friends, Mr. Grupper said, “I would like to publicly thank all the volunteers in the community who give so selflessly of themselves to our youth through PAL, HEWYBL, the volunteer first responders, and the other unpaid youth and senior services providers and leaders for their contribution to our community. Also the implementers of policy and service like the police and Public Works employees who make our town what it is.”
”I would like to thank my fellow candidates, Al and Anna, for running a great campaign,” Mr. Berdzik said. “I’d like to thank my wife, Caroline, and my children, Julia and Connor, for helping. Above all, I’d like to thank our supporters who have been very active in this past election cycle.”
Mr. Duke and Mr. Shapiro did not respond to The Herald’s post-election questions by press deadline.
”Voters can rest assured that we will continue to diligently protect their interests,” Deputy Mayor Rosenberg said in his post-election statement to The Herald.
Mr. Rosenberg continued, “I’d like to thank the voters, all of the volunteers who worked so hard for us, my fellow candidates and Mayor Janice Mironov.”