An earnest newcomer to the local political scene, Benjamin Steinhauser is gracious after being passed over for a Council position.
“I did not expect to get voted in once I found out Hemant [Marathe, the former School Board president]was running for the position,” Steinhauser says. “It doesn’t deter me, I don’t mind trying and failing. Being there and making my presence known, I think that will lead to way more positive things than not doing anything at all.”
An officer and volunteer for West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company Number 1 since moving to the town several years ago, Steinhauser works as a software developer and architect for B&R Business Solutions, based in Colts Neck.
His first political involvement involved aiding the 2013 mayoral campaign of Richard Visovsky, who was then president of the fire company.
“I offered my services. I’ve been giving computer help all my life,” Steinhauser says. “It started out just with internet and social media.”
During the campaign Steinhauser’s role expanded to secretary and agenda organization, and the numerous meetings with residents exposed him to the their community concerns and their expectations of the mayor and council.
Though his efforts fell short this time, he has met many residents and is now more familiar with the political scene.
“I was pleasantly surprised from the support I got from the people who were genuinely pleased that I was giving my best,” Steinhauser says. “Honestly it was a great experience.”
He is contemplating another Council run this fall, and he also expressed interest in volunteering on one of the township committees.
Steinhauser, 36, grew up in Edison. His father was a vending machine mechanic and his mother was a legal secretary. He attended NJIT and majored in computer science. Initially he pursued electrical engineering, but having done computer programming work in high school he switched to computer science. Finding full time work at NJIT’s IT department, he also completed his master’s there.
While at NJIT Steinhauser worked on various state projects, including the development of the Health Alert Network. In 2006 he started a software consulting company, and he later worked for the Rutgers University Foundation as a senior programmer and senior web development programmer.
He met his wife, Uta, during one of his projects. She works in Trenton as a research scientist for the Department of Health.
The two were renting in North Brunswick before moving to West Windsor in 2011, attracted by the school system as well as the township’s bucolic atmosphere.
“My wife was pregnant when we were looking,” Steinhauser says. “So it wasn’t a hypothetical where our child would go to school.”
They have a son and a daughter, three-year-old Kurt and 10-month-old Eva. Steinhauser is thrilled they were able to find an affordable and quaint home to raise a family.
“We’re literally on a farm on Cubberly Road,” Steinhauser says. “It was incredible to find a place like this. We don’t have street lights here, which is kind of nice. It’s dark and quiet.”
A mail flyer for the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company prompted him to give firefighting a try, though he inadvertently joined the other company in town.
“The flyer was kind of staring at me for months,” Steinhauser says. “I went out to the wrong fire company. When I went on Google Maps to find more information, I saw West Windsor Fire Company, Station 43.”
Steinhauser joined in the fall of 2012 and graduated as valedictorian at the Mercer County Fire Academy the following spring. Surrounded by mostly teenagers for classmates, the recent father was moved by the experience of learning from youth.
“That was an interesting experience, seeing their young world, seeing it from an adult and parent’s perspective,” Steinhauser says. “These are good kids in town, that’s an amazing thing. That’s something to cherish and protect.”
Currently he is treasurer for station 43, using his IT background to help modernize the accounting. In addition, he is a member of the Mercer County Fire Police Association. In cases of a natural disaster or an accident, volunteer members direct traffic and control access at emergency scenes. In the past three years, Steinhauser has also played the role of Santa Claus when the fire engine makes its holiday rounds.
Undaunted by the prospect of becoming a firefighter, Steinhauser took another chance with his recent application for Council.
“I’ve heard how passionate some of the people can get on Council,” Steinhauser says. “I’ve run into very passionate people at fire department meetings. I don’t think that’s a problem. I’m not easily intimated by anybody unless it’s Hulk Hogan who can smash my head. I’ve done pretty well there making sure I’m listening to what everyone is saying. I keep an open mind. For most rational, logical people, as long as you are trying and compassionate towards their concerns, you can’t really fail.”
Having rented in various New Jersey towns, he has found a home in West Windsor and is looking to give back. With two young kids and a house on a farm, the school system and preserving the farming heritage of West Windsor are top priorities. He knows he has much to learn about municipal governance, but his main goal is to ensure the public’s interest is being taken into consideration.
“People want to make sure they are being listened to,” Steinhauser says. “You can’t fix everyone’s problems, but it just seems a lot of people’s concerns were that they were not being represented properly. It’s almost cliche at this point, but everyone wants a fresh perspective. I don’t have any political baggage except with the relation to someone who lost in the mayoral race in 2013.”
