Gaetano “Guy” Gaspari With four positions up for grabs, Edison Republicans see this year’s election as an opportunity to seize a majority on the seven-member Township Council.
The Democrats are attempting to retain full control of the council with incumbents Robert Karabinchak and Michael Lombardi, and newcomers Ajay Patil and Leonard Sendelsky. The Republicans counter with candidates Gaetano “Guy” Gaspari, Ashok J. Nayee, Michael Orlowski and Wayne Mascola, a councilman who recently switched parties.
Incumbent Karabinchak said his experience makes him the best candidate. A 30- year business owner, Karabinchak has served on the council for seven years.
“One of my strengths is that I apply the same practices that I use in my business to Town Hall,” he said.
He said his goals are “to keep property taxes as stable as possible, to find ways to lower the financial impact on homeowners from commercial tax appeals, and continue lobbying the state and county for Edison’s fair share of available financial assistance.”
Robert Karabinchaka He said he is also in the process of writing policy changes to reduce expenses and save taxpayer dollars.
Karabinchak said he also listens to what residents have to say.
“Then, I try to make the best possible decision with their wishes in mind,” he said, adding that he will advocate for greater accountability and professionalism from officials, and support hiring more police officers and appropriately equipping them.
The incumbent Lombardi said he wants to continue the progress the council has been making “to help Edison become a better place to live and work.
“Edison has become a more receptive place for businesses seeking to relocate. I am running for re-election to continue promoting those efforts.” Lombardi, who is seeking his second four-year term, said his goals are “to maintain and improve township services as much as possible, while placing as little additional burden as possible on our property owners.”
Michael Lombardi He said the environment is also an important issue.
“I am also very proud of my envir onmental record,” he said. “My efforts helped Edison become the first Middlesex County town to ban fracking, and I led the Township Council to oppose the Pilgrim Pipeline that would carry highly flammable and toxic crude oil through some of our residential neighborhoods and environmentally sensitive areas.”
Newcomer Patil said his fresh perspective and professional background would benefit the council.
“My engineering and insurance industry experience would be an asset as Town Hall continues to make much-needed improvements to parks, recreation areas and public facilities in South Edison and North Edison neighborhoods,” he said.
Wayne Mascola He said he’s running “to keep Edison affordable, livable and safe for my family and everyone else’s. I want to ensure that our property tax dollars are spent wisely.”
Patil said he supports looking to save money through shared services. He added that he wants to look at traffic mitigation and give careful consideration to future development.
Sendelsky, chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the nonprofit Edison Memorial Tower Corp., said he’s invested in Edison’s future.
“Property taxes are the No. 1 priority for every family, including mine. want to see that Edison provides the best possible municipal services at the most reasonable cost to taxpayers,” he said. “I support the sensible investments Town Hall is making to improve our streets, parks, recreation areas and sanitary sewers. These are quality of-life enhancements for our families, and they make Edison a more attractive destination for businesses seeking to relocate.”
Ashok J. Nayee Sendelsky said he also wants to bring in new commercial ratables to give homeowners tax relief. In addition, he said he wants Town Hall to be “responsive and accountable” to taxpayers.
Sendelsky said his community service background and position as principal in his family’s local general contracting and property management business are “powerful incentives for me to do the best possible job as a Township Council member.”
Gaspari, director of Public Works for Piscataway, was the Republican mayoral candidate two years ago.
“Now I have another opportunity to run as councilman and once again give Edison an alternative to the irresponsible one-party rule that has resulted in disastrous consequences for our community,“ he said.
Michael Orlowski He said Edison has gone from one of the lowest-taxed communities in the county to one of the highest.
“It is time for real change by electing candidates that are accountable, responsible and ethical,” he said, adding that his concerns include police officers whose alleged actions have put them in the spotlight, as well as the township legal costs that come from those situations.
Gaspari said township departments should be doing more with less and should be free from “the cronyism and nepotism that has been chronic for many years.”
He also wants to look at eliminating unnecessary permits and fees, which he said, “create a burden on the taxpaying public and impede the progress and productivity of the local businesses. “
Ajay Patil Newcomer Nayee is a decorated military veteran who seeks to make Edison’s government more efficient and effective “by bringing balance in our community, balance in our city budget and balance in city government.”
He said he wants to stabilize or reduce property taxes, which he said continue to climb without any increase in services.
“If I am elected, would award contract based qualifications and competition where we get ‘bang for our buck,’” Nayee said, adding that he feels “the contracts awarded by our city are ‘rubber stamp’ approved.”
He said the one-party representation on the council does not promote effective bipartisanship.
Nayee, president of a consulting firm, said he would lead by “listening, promoting transparency and consistently involving people in the decision that affect cost-control measures.”
Leonard Sendelsky He also said his military background would be an asset in handling township processes.
Orlowski, a retired corporate vice president from a defense-contracting firm, cited property taxes as the most important issue.
“By careful review of contracts issued for municipal services, I hope to monitor the terms and conditions of the contracts, thereby preventing unnecessary expenditures and contracts issued as political favors,” he said. “Since my entire career has been based on financial accountability and the prevention of fraud, … my experience would be an asset to the community.”
The incumbent Mascola, who was elected as a Democrat, is running this year as a Republican.
“First and foremost, my loyalty lies with my neighbors — fellow residents and taxpayers of Edison, not party bosses,” he said.
Mascola, who in the past has served as council president and vice president, said leadership free from party bosses is what residents deserve.
He said he felt abandoned by the Democratic Party, which he said continues to increase taxes without increasing services. He said township finances should be handled like household finances.
“We continue to settle lawsuits that subject taxpayers to pay for the mistakes of politicians,” Mascola said.
He added that Edison needs new ratables and fewer expensive “scandals at Town Hall” to stabilize taxes.
“We just need to do more with less money from our taxpayers,” he said.
Mascola also said the way the township is being run has to change, and it needs a full-time mayor and the right personnel in place throughout its departments.
“This administration thinks they can shake the negative headlines our town has received by hiring a taxpayer-funded [public relations] firm,” he said. “What we need is real solutions to clean up this mess once and for all.”