Kathy Bybee, West Windsor
I’d like to add my voice to those who support Hemant Marathe, Virginia Manzari and Gerald Halloran for Township Council. First, I volunteered to work on their campaign. Even though there are plenty of other claims on our time, I believe local government is important in ways we don’t usually think about until something goes wrong. We’re fortunate in West Windsor because good and competent people are willing to step up to do a time-consuming and sometimes thankless job. It’s important to support them.
Second, I know these candidates to be smart and generous people. They have the ability to push hard for what they believe but at the same time show respect to those with whom they disagree. Anyone who has observed our school board for many years has seen Hemant’s deft hand at work. Virginia’s high-octane pursuit of a goal is tempered only by her natural kindness, as many of us know. And Gerald’s self-effacing sense of humor is quick to defuse a tense situation. These characteristics usually don’t come through in newspaper interviews, but they often inform the decisions of voters.
Third, Hemant, Virginia and Gerald create a portfolio of skills that will be important to the township as we confront difficult challenges. We shouldn’t underestimate the potential impact of new development in West Windsor. We need council members who are financially savvy, who understand how to handle large corporate interests, and who are willing to stand up for residents.
Also, this is clearly not a partisan issue, so we can’t afford a partisan response. Those who represent us on council must be strictly independent of outside political influence if we want an outcome that’s in our town’s best interest.
Local government isn’t as flashy as big-time politics, so sometimes it’s hard to get excited about voting in an “off-year” election. But self-government at every level is more than just a civic responsibility, it’s a privilege. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Kathy Bybee
West Windsor
