Will Anklowitz will participate in three debates against incumbent Barbara Pfeifer as they both campaign for a seat on the West Windsor Township Council. Election day is Tuesday, November 7 and the first debate is Thursday, October 5, but Anklowitz has begun to make regular statements to the press in support of his candidacy.
Anklowitz took exception to the council’s 4-1 vote to hold an executive session joint meeting between the council and the search committee (see related story) for the purpose of providing a recommendation to the Mayor for the firm who will be hired as planner for the township’s 350-acre redevelopment project.
“Members of the Search Committee should appear and give their comments on the open public record before the council along with all interested members of the public,”” says Anklowitz. “Public sentiment should then weigh heavily in council’s decision – a decision that should be made in public following a public deliberation. council should not be taking comments from anyone – including the search committee – in private, executive sessions. The search Committee should not make this decision. Council should make the decision in consultation with the mayor.”
The lone vote against the executive session was cast by Charles Morgan, who has openly supported Anklowitz’ candidacy. Morgan was the lone vote for Anklowitz when he ran against nine other candidates for in May for Pfeifer’s current seat. Pfeifer was selected by a 3-1 council vote to fill a position which had been vacated mid-term. Morgan’s vote was for Anklowitz.
“The Council has said that they are committed to a public process in the selection of the consultant to lead our redevelopment effort. I call upon council to back up its words with actions and hold its deliberations and decision-making in public. The council will be rewarded with public confidence that the process was fair and above-board and that the best consultant was selected for the big job ahead of us.”
Anklowitz also called attention to a township ordinance which handcuffs his rival from using the West Windsor television channel to support her campaign. Cable station 27 broadcasts all council meetings. “Declared candidates, including their spouses and agents, who are persons who have publicly announced their intention to run for an office are precluded from advocating any cause, viewpoint, or opposed policy of a partisan nature on the channel 100 days before the election,” reads ordinance 60-8, paragraph B.
“I have said that township council meetings are not a proper place to have debates. The public television channel should not be turned into a propaganda machine. I call on all candidates to follow my lead and the law on this point,” says Anklowitz.
