West Windsor councilman chooses his election slate

Gambatese selects two to oppose ticket led by Morgan, Anklowitz

By: Molly Petrilla
   WEST WINDSOR — Over the weekend, Councilman Franc Gambatese completed the slate of candidates he plans to run with for Township Council in May.
   Mr. Gambatese said Monday that Chuck Chang and Diane Ciccone — both members of the Planning Board — will join him in submitting nominating petitions, which are due to the clerk’s office March 15.
   Last week, Councilmen Charles Morgan and Will Anklowitz said they plan to run for re-election along with Windsor Haven resident Steven Schorr, who managed Mr. Anklowitz’s campaign last fall.
   The election will take place on May 8, at which time three of the council’s five seats will be up for grabs. According to Township Clerk Sharon Young, residents will be placed on the ballot only if they have secured 141 signatures by the time petitions are due.
   "It’s a great ticket, it really is," Mr. Gambatese said. "We represent everybody — it’s a nonpartisan ticket."
   Mr. Chang served as an alternate on the Planning Board from 1993 to 1997 and has been a full member since 2000.
   He currently serves as a liaison between the Planning Board and the Affordable Housing Committee.
   The Saratoga Drive resident said he retired from his job with ExxonMobil Corp. last March, and since then has had more time to dedicate to serving his community.
   As an industrial hygienist at ExxonMobil, Mr. Chang worked to ensure safety, health and environmental protection — a background he said would be useful on the council.
   Ms. Ciccone — who is an attorney — joined the Planning Board last summer and said she hopes to further serve West Windsor as a member of the council.
   "The town is getting ready to go through some very exciting things," she said. "I think I can bring a perspective that could be beneficial."
   Mr. Gambatese said he and his two running mates will collect signatures both as a group and individually in the coming weeks.
   "They’re two extremely qualified people with a lot of background," he said. "They bring a lot of different experience to the job."
   He added, "I couldn’t be happier with the two running mates that I have. I think they’re fantastic."