The borough will have a new council in January after a landslide victory for Democrats on Nov. 5.
By Jen Samuel, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The borough will have a new council in January after a landslide victory for Democrats on Nov. 5.
Newcomers Steven Misiura, president of the Planning Board, and Denise “Denny” Hansen defeated Republican incumbents Lynne Woods and Selena Bibens.
Ms. Hansen said, “The landslide win was a perfect conclusion to what was a very high energy campaign. I contribute our victory to our clear, consistent and courageous platform of common sense solutions for Hightstown’s future sustainability and affordability.”
”I am a little disappointed,” Ms. Bibens said Wednesday. “But I know what goals I set out to do. Some where accomplished and some weren’t.”
According to the unofficial results from the Mercer County clerk’s office, 2,516 people voted for Borough Council candidates Tuesday. Three people opted to write-in personal choices.
”Steve and I will represent you with the utmost honesty, transparency and boldness,” Ms. Hansen to The Herald on Nov. 7.
Ms. Hansen received 805 votes, or 32 percent.
”I was filled with anticipation for the election results and to hear the true voice of the people of Hightstown,” Ms. Hansen said of election night. “I believed we had support of the majority and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to our many supporters.”
Mr. Misiura received 824 votes, or 32.75 percent.
”This was a decisive victory and it gives us a clear mandate,” Mr. Misiura told The Herald.
In contrast, the Republican councilwomen received 884 votes collectively.
Ms. Woods received 454 votes, or 18 percent.
Ms. Woods said, “I will leave office knowing that I did right by Hightstown by being fair and honest and trying to expose those who were not. I have received numerous phone calls expressing disbelief at the outcome of this election.”
Ms. Bibens received 430 votes, or 17 percent.
”This is small town USA,” Ms. Bibens said. “Did they have more signage? Yup. But that’s OK. It’s all good at the end of the day. I wish Steve and Denny all the best.”
”The opposing side characterized us in a way that I believe was sometimes inaccurate,” Mr. Misiura said, “but I don’t think there was anything particularly unfair about it.”
Ms. Woods had strong words Wednesday for the opposing team.
”Their campaign was based on lies,” Ms. Woods said. “The opponents have won on untruths which will eventually surface and it will be too late for Hightstown.”
In contrast Mr. Misiura said, “They are entitled to their opinions and, after all, they were out to win an election. However, I do find it unfortunate that private citizens, who supported us, were also criticized in some of their campaign literature.”
However Ms. Woods accused her political opponents of making false statements that the Borough Council would be spending millions of taxpayer dollars to rebuild the Borough Hall, which has sat vacant since damages sustained when Hurricane Irene hit the community with a massive flood surge in August 2011.
The council authorized spending $3.4 million to rebuild the Borough Hall in April, a move that required $475 million from bonding, and caused a firestorm of controversy.
The council majority said at the time that Lexington Insurance and the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be responsible for approximately $2.925 million to rebuild the flood-damaged municipal complex, with the rest of the funds coming from the bonding authorization.
However, as previously reported in The Herald, residents rejecting the bond successfully organized a door-to-door petition mandating that the ordinance be put to a referendum, with Ms. Hansen and Mr. Misiura at the helm of that grassroots effort.
After the people spoke, the Borough Council withdrew the spending ordinance over the summer.
In September the Borough Council voted to demolish the vacant Borough Hall at 148 N. Main St. to construct a 12,000-square-foot facility to house the Police Department and municipal government.
Both Mr. Misiura and Ms. Hansen said it would be wrong to rebuild the facility in a flood zone.
After the election, Ms. Woods shared what she foresaw for the future of the borough.
”I predict there will be no Borough Hall. There will be no court or police in Hightstown by the end of 2014,” Ms. Woods stated. “I predict that they will wait until that happens and then move the Borough Hall to the temporary police station and we will pay rent for our Borough Hall on the outskirts of town.”
The municipal government moved its headquarters across the street to the old Public Works building after Hurricane Irene hit. This year three Public Works employees have been relocated to an office trailer to elevate overcrowding on Bank Street.
”People should be asking why it (took) two years to get to the point of negotiating with the insurance company and notice that it didn’t happen until after (the) Lucas building was sold. There is a conspiracy folks,” Ms. Wood said. “The only ones denying it are those who are involved in it. The definition of a conspiracy is when two or more people work together to do something that is harmful or illegal. And that is exactly what has happened.”
Since 2012, Ms. Bibens and Ms. Woods have been aligned with Councilman Robert Thibault and Councilwoman Gail Doran, both Democrats, composing a council majority set on rebuilding the Borough Hall rather than renting space out of 415 Mercer St., commonly referred to as the Lucas building in town.
”(Thank you) Democrats Rob Thibault and Gail Doran for joining me in the fight to try to set things right for Hightstown,” Ms. Woods said Nov. 6. “I hope they will continue to fight the good fight despite the make up of the new council. I have no doubt they will.”
Mayor Steven Kirson had advocated in public repeatedly for the municipal government to move to 415 Mercer St. Both Council President Lawrence Quattrone and Councilwoman Susan Bluth, who along with the mayor are also Democrats, have represented the council minority over the past two years. They have aligned themselves with the mayor to pursue renting office space elsewhere rather than rebuilding on North Main Street.
When Ms. Hansen and Mr. Misiura join the council in January, there will be a new majority in town.
Ms. Woods called for an investigation.
”I do believe there should be a thorough investigation by an outside agency to review what has gone on over the last three years in relation to Borough Hall issues and the insurance company,” Ms. Woods said.
”Our goal is to find real cost savings through high impact initiatives, namely police outsourcing or municipal consolidation with East Windsor,” Ms. Hansen said. “The first step in either of these initiatives is to create a shared service-consolidation study commission to formally consider what options are right for Hightstown and East Windsor.” “It is unfortunate, but it I think (Borough Hall) will definitely not be a priority,” Ms. Bibens said. “It has been known by many how the opposing side has felt about this project from the beginning. I just hope that the residents of Hightstown benefit in a positive from whatever may be decided.”
Mr. Misiura said, “I do not yet know what the future Borough Hall will ultimately be, or where it will be located.
Mr. Misiura said he was certain a brand new† $7 million police-municipal complex built in the original flood prone location would not happen.
”Hopefully through shared services and outsourcing agreements, we can reduce the size and scope of the project so that the costs fall within the final insurance settlement amount,” he said.
Said Ms. Hansen, “We face serious challenges, but the most immediate tasks are the appointment of a borough administrator, the insurance settlement on Hurricane Irene damages, a municipal complex decision and union contract negotiations.”
Mr. Misiura said his three long-term goals included lowering taxes, increasing property values and “reunification with East Windsor.”
He said one of his short-term goals would be to establishment of a municipal consolidation committee.
He also would like to see created an independent redevelopment authority to restart redevelopment efforts at the vacant rug mill site.
Ms. Woods is not looking to run again and will finish her first three-year term this year.
”I believe that everything happens for a reason,” Ms. Woods stated. “When God closes a door he opens a window. He must have different plans for me. I will move on with my head held proudly.”
”For our new council to govern effectively we must rebuild the poor public image of our governing body with good behavior and good public relations,” Ms. Hansen stated. “Relationships are important to our success.”
A single mother, Ms. Woods expressed thanks to her two daughters, resident J.P. Gibbons, Jeremy Katz, Mary Stazzone and a special thanks to Shirley Olsen and Warren Olsen for fundraising for the Republican candidates inside their home.
Ms. Bibens, serving her first term, said she was most proud of the borough’s public safety record and what that has given to the community; numerous shared service agreements with other municipalities; and the ongoing relationships built over the past three years with residents and committee members.
Ms. Bibens did not rule out running again, but told The Herald to ask her again in six months after the dusk of this election settled.
”I am very thankful to all those who voted,” she said, expressing gratitude also to her biggest supporters, her husband, George, and their children.
Ms. Hansen said, “Thank you to the residents of Hightstown for your vote. And thank you to our campaign team, the Hightstown Democratic Club and the many Hightstonians for their past service and their perspectives, insights and support.”
”I would like to thank my family, the people of Hightstown, our core supporters and our amazing campaign committee,” Mr. Misiura said Wednesday, adding special thanks to his fellow council member-elect, Ms. Hansen.
In 2012 Ms. Hansen narrowly lost her first bid for Borough Council. She ran as a Republican alongside George Serrano. Incumbent council members Ms. Doran and Mr. Quattrone won that election.
The newly elected Democrats will begin their terms in January.
”Going door-to-door and speaking to people gave us a strong indication that our message was resonating with the voters of Hightstown,” Mr. Misiura said.
Tuesday evening, after winning her own race, Sen. Linda Greenstein, of the 14th District, said the Hightstown Democrats were both excellent candidates for the community.

