By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrence Township Democratic and Republican parties unveiled their slate of candidates for two Township Council seats this week.
The four candidates Democratic Mayor Jim Kownacki and Township Councilman Stephen Brame, and Republican Party challengers Glenn Collins and Max Ramos filed their nominating petitions by the April 1 deadline.
None of the candidates are facing opposition in the June 4 political party primaries. The winners of the Democratic and Republican party primaries will square off in the Nov. 5 general election for the two available Township Council seats.
Mayor Kownacki is seeking his second four-year term, and Mr. Brame is seeking his first full term. Mr. Brame was appointed in January to fill the unexpired term of former Councilman Greg Puliti, who resigned.
Mayor Kownacki is a 16-year resident of Lawrence Township. He lives on Fillmore Place in the Society Hill at the Brunswick Circle condominium development. He is a maintenance electrician for the Ewing Lawrence Sewerage Authority.
He has served on the Planning Board and on the Public Safety Advisory Committee and the Construction Board of Appeals.
Mayor Kownacki said he is running for re-election because he enjoys serving Lawrence Township residents. Acknowledging the “ups and downs” of serving in political office, he said, “there are more pleasurable moments than bad ones.”
”Like the old saying goes, once politics gets in your blood, you can’t get it out,” Mayor Kownacki said.
The Lawrence Township Democratic Club also asked him to run for a second term, he said, even though he had only planned on serving one term.
Mr. Brame said he had served several terms on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, so “the next logical step” is to serve on Township Council. He was chosen to fill out the remaining year of Mr. Puliti’s term and he is seeking election to his first full term “because it makes sense for reasons of continuity.”
It takes time to become acclimated to serving on Township Council, Mr. Brame said. There is much more work to be done on Township Council and it is important that the council retains some continuity, he added.
Mr. Brame has lived in Lawrence Township for 20 years. The Princeton Pike resident is an attorney who specializes in and use and economic development issues. He served on the Zoning Board of Adjustment until his appointment to Township Council.
Mr. Collins, who lives on Bearfort Way, is a 25-year resident of Lawrence Township. He is a senior adjuster with the Encompass Insurance Co.
Mr. Collins serves on the Planning Board and the Recreation Advisory Committee. He has coached youth T-ball, basketball, baseball and soccer, and he is also a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 28.
Mr. Collins said he is running for Township Council because the governing body “needs to be held accountable.” He pointed to what he claimed is the council’s “total lack of concern for the taxpayers,” noting a 7.3-percent increase in municipal property taxes for 2013 when the newly enacted bulk garbage fee is included.
”Since 1996, Township Council has been under the control of (the Democratic Party), and for the past two years, they have held total control. For 17 years, they have failed again and again to control spending and prudently manage our finances,” Mr. Collins said.
Mr. Ramos has lived in Lawrence Township for 13 years. The Woodlane Road resident is a sales executive with the Hewlett Packard Company.
Mr. Ramos has coached youth soccer and basketball. He also serves on the township’s Growth and Redevelopment Committee.
”I am running for Township Council because the people of this township are being taxed to death by the current council,” Mr. Ramos said. “The current one-party council has failed to bring spending under control. It has failed to attract new businesses to Lawrence to lessen the tax burden on residents.”
”Township Council has failed to take the common sense steps needed to keep our community an affordable place to live. It is time for change,” Mr. Ramos said.
