Hard work and vision matter. It’s simple. I am very proud to represent West Windsor Township. It is one of the best communities in the state of New Jersey. I have worked with a myriad of residents to create a shared community vision that looks to the future for our next generations. West Windsor’s model for success must continue to include policies and practices that develop a clear path for this township to thrive. We must continue our long-standing commitment to a sustainable environment, maintain a well-respected financially stable reputation, foster economic development, promote recreation, and continue to celebrate our diversity.
West Windsor’s successes are unmatched. Together, we have preserved 50 percent of the open space and preserved farmland; constructed the first railroad bridge with a roundabout in New Jersey; restored the historical Grovers Mill Pond to a fishable body of water; built the first 9-11 Memorial in the nation with volunteers; realigned Meadow Road with a signalized intersection at Clarksville Road; improved the Alexander Road S-curve with bicycle lanes and sidewalks; and created more recreational opportunities for our youth and retirees. By the end of this year many major infrastructure projects, such as bridges, road reconstruction, and additional train station parking will be completed for West Windsor residents. Likewise, after 20 years of effort to restore and preserve an historic treasure of West Windsor, the West Windsor History Museum at Schenck Farmstead was finally opened on September 10, 2013.
West Windsor is an award-winning community. West Windsor is the first town in the state to be recognized at the national level as “Green Town USA”; our senior center is the first municipal senior center to receive national accreditation in New Jersey; in 2009 West Windsor was ranked by AOL as the most family-friendly neighborhood in the country; we received the highest certification by the Sustainable Jersey program as a sustainable community; West Windsor was the first town in the state to be recognized as a bicycle friendly community by a national organization; our Community Farmers Market was voted in 2012 as “America’s Favorite Farmers Market”; this year, we were ranked No. 3 as one of the ten best municipal websites in New Jersey and the best for citizen interaction by Monmouth University.
Health and recreation are vital for our residents. Thanks to having Mercer County Park in our municipality, West Windsor has been selected as a tournament site for many sports including baseball, lacrosse, triathlons, rowing, and dragon boat competitions. Next year West Windsor will be the site for the U.S. Special Olympics and the NCAA championship for women’s rowing. West Windsor is home to the Finn Caspersen Rowing Center, which is the training center for the U.S. national and Olympic rowing teams. With the support of the community the popularity of the Farmers Market and West Windsor Arts Center continues to grow every year. These two places, along with the Community Park, are important venues to enhance our quality of life.
Continuing to foster economic development and financial stability. During the last decade we have been very successful in bring Tyco International, NRG Energy, BlackRock, Otsuka Pharmacy, Axis Reinsurance, Wells Forgo headquarters, the Miami International Exchange, and many international business operations to West Windsor. At the same time there are more restaurants and retailers, such as Trader Joe’s, Jake’s Wayback Burgers, Jimmy John’s, PJs Pancake House, Corner Bakery, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Bobby’s Burger Palace, Banana Republic, and others coming to our town. As one of the few New Jersey municipalities with an increase in total ratables last year, we expect more quality ratables added to our tax revenues this coming year. This is how we maintain tax stability with sustainable planning. While we keep a AAA bond rating to reduce our tax burden, we also continue to provide our residents garbage collection, branches/leaves/debris collection, and emergency services as part of our municipal services. Many of our neighboring towns do not provide garbage collection and/or have fire districts, which to them are an additional tax.
Positioning West Windsor regionally. Now, after years of planning, action, and construction, we have a very strong foundation to move forward. Currently West Windsor is taking the lead in the Regional Mayors Coalition to work with the stakeholders and state Department of Transportation to improve traffic circulation along Route 1. With more than a half century of effort, a major action is expected to happen at last. Changes to Route 1 must improve east/west connectivity as well as north/south traffic flow. Those who use our train station must be able to cross Route 1, and as we have learned the hard way, the historic district of Penns Neck must be protected. In the mean time, we are working very closely with the county to turn Princeton-Highstown Road between the High School South and the railroad tracks into a bicycle/pedestrian-friendly street. With all the changes ongoing in the neighborhood, this will add to the vitality of our evolving downtown.
My West Windsor roots. I arrived in the United States from Taiwan in 1969 with $300 in my pocket, a scholarship for advanced degrees, and a dream of a bright future for my family. After much hard work I received my doctorate in engineering from Rutgers University. New Jersey has been my home for 44 years, and I have resided for 28 years in West Windsor. My wife Sue and I have raised two children, Stephen and Susan, who have received excellent educations in our public schools and in New Jersey universities. We have four grandchildren now. I am very proud to be a citizen of this great country and equally proud to be part of the West Windsor community. I believe that residents should give back by volunteering their time to make their hometown a better place in which to live. This has been my goal.
What’s next for West Windsor. Having a sustainable financial foundation along with infrastructure improvements and continuing to upgrade elements contributing to our quality of life, we will remain a very attractive community to recruit new business development. It is my vision that if we can all get on the same page, leveraging what we already have in West Windsor — specifically, finance and high tech companies along with world-class research institutions — we can turn this area into an economic, engineering, and high tech hub for the state.
The right team. The next four years are vital for West Windsor’s quality of life. The potential is here for West Windsor to become the envy of not only the county but also the state. We will get there by continuing to work hard with the contacts I have made and the paths I have followed to improve West Windsor’s quality of life. With many years of government experience working at local, state, and federal levels, established relationships and networks within the business community, and a track record of accomplishments, I rededicate myself to the future well-being of this township. To address future challenges effectively, we need healthy and constructive discussion of the issues and timely decision-making. I am pleased that Kamal Khanna and Eric Payne will be joining me on this next phase of West Windsor’s vision. These two individuals share these visions, as I do. Let us work together and continue to move this town forward.
Shing-Fu Hsueh
