In what turned out to be a referendum on housing in the proposed transit village, the voters of West Windsor sent a clear message: They do not want 1,”000 new homes built in the center of town. ##M:[more]##Will Anklowitz, George Borek, and Charles Morgan, who ran a campaign featuring signs with the phrase “1,”000 Homes” crossed out, swept the May 8 election.
As a result, political power is shifting in West Windsor. With Borek replacing Franc Gambatese, incumbents Morgan and Anklowitz, who recently proposed the township call a referendum on the redevelopment, will be joined by a third vote, giving the mayor’s opposition a majority on council. That might enhance Morgan’s position if he decides to run for mayor in 2009.
Anklowitz led all candidates with 1,”925 votes, followed by Morgan with 1,”856. Borek was third with 1,”607. Gambatese got 1,”441 votes, Diane Ciccone got 1,”281, and Hsi-Chi “Chuck” Chang got 1,”277. The numbers do not include absentee and provisional ballots, but not enough were filed to change the outcome. Surprisingly, only 23 percent, or 3,”188 of 13,”713 registered voters, went to the polls. (In the May, 2005, municipal election voter turnout was 29 percent.)
Gambatese, Chang, and Ciccone, the “West Windsor Together” slate, were also opposed to the 1,”000 homes, but were viewed by the public as supporting Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh. Hsueh appointed both Chang and Ciccone to the planning board, and has often been on the same side of township issues as Gambatese.
More importantly, Gambatese has often been on the opposite side of issues as Morgan. With three votes on council, Morgan’s party can vote down resolutions that Hsueh, who ran with current council president Linda Geevers and vice president Heidi Kleinman two years ago, had the votes to pass over the past two years.
“We’re going to move forward with redevelopment but we’re going to do it in a judicious way,” said Morgan during a loud, jubilant celebration following the announcement of the results at Anklowitz’s home in Windsor Ponds. “We’re going to make sure the community likes what they see, but will feel like they have the full opportunity to voice their opinion and to see what they say reflected somehow.”
Will they stay committed to their message and vote down any plan with 1,”000 homes? “We’re going to follow on our campaign promises,” said Morgan. “I can’t speak for the other two, but if you read one of our pieces, the first thing we’re going to do is get our principles resolution in front of council. The next thing we’re going to do is get an E-mail policy written. The ethics policy that I wrote last fall, we’re going to dust that off and move that forward. And we’re going to make sure that the open mic program on May 21 and the June 4 meeting is going to be a study in a deliberate process that is inclusive of community.” (See following page for a related article on the May 21 meeting.)
Morgan said the signs featuring the crossed out “1,”000 homes” were instrumental in his slate sweeping the election. The signs began appearing on West Windsor lawns just days before the election. “It was brilliant. It really resonated,” said Morgan, who later added that it was his idea — inspired by signs used in a “Stop Toll” campaign in the 1990s.
“We conducted a campaign with a couple of simple messages, and we really stuck to those simple messages: Let’s not impair our neighborhoods, let’s cut taxes to the extent we can. Let’s buy open space. Above all let’s not cram something down the throats of the people that they don’t want.”
Borek says his ticket won because they based their issues on what residents said they want. “We took it upon ourselves to listen. The community told us how to run this campaign,” he said. “We ran it listening to them. People today came out because they wanted the right people there, they wanted people who would be objective, and be a voice for the people.”
Borek, a Jersey City firefighter, ran for council two years ago on a ticket with David Siegel and Alison Miller as a mayoral candidate. The three lost to Hsueh, Geevers and Kleinman, who got 87 percent of the vote. This time Borek’s ticket that got 57 percent of the vote.
Borek will be sworn in to council at the annual reorganization meeting scheduled for Sunday, July 1. At that time, council will also appoint a new president. Traditionally, council has rotated the position. Morgan was president two years ago, so Kleinman, who is entering her third year on council, could be next in line if Morgan, Anklowitz and Borek do not decide to break with that tradition.
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, who endorsed the “West Windsor Together” team, did not call the winners, nor did he go to their party, to offer congratulations on election night. “I didn’t go because I didn’t know where it was,” he said the following day. “I haven’t spoken with them. I did direct the township staff to be available to talk to them and answer their questions.”
For the losers, who convened at the Courtney Drive home of Richard Eland, the night began with some apprehension and ended early. Before any results were reported, supporter Steve Decter expressed his concern with the rising opposition to the transit village plans and to the perception that the Gambatese ticket was affiliated with it. Citing the transit village concerns, combined with recent flooding and resulting damage to the West Windsor infrastructure, Decter noted wryly that “we have a perfect storm” of discontent.
Two chalk boards were set up to record the totals from the township’s 16 districts — only three were reported before the party ended. “We lost, we all lost,” Gambatese announced matter-of-factly to the supporters. “We ran an honest race, we ran on our merits and the issues, not on personalities.” He, Chang, and Ciccone all promised to continue their involvement in the township: “Let’s just keep at it and see what happens.”
Hsueh said past problems with council have been the result of poor communication. “The politics make it so hard for some members to communicate with me. I would like to take more initiative. I know if I continue to take the initiative to talk with them, I will be able to work with them,” said Hsueh. “I want them to know I have an open door policy and I think it is very important that we improve communication. I want to change things so we communicate better.”
Hsueh said he is committed to working with the new council to achieve consensus on redevelopment. “I respect the voters’ choice, and I think it is important for people to know that at the present time there is no decision on any redevelopment plan. There is no such thing as 1,”000 houses,” said Hsueh.
“We have to allow for the process,” said Hsueh of the redevelopment. “I personally feel that Bob Hillier created that plan based on the input of the township, what people said they feel they want in terms of public amenities. That is what he recommended.”
Hsueh has said in the past that he would reserve judgments on the plan until it was finished. He has said he respects the professionals involved. “I trust the planner, but I have reservations,” he said following the election. “They haven’t given proof of why we need 1,”000 houses. I’m not satisfied with that justification yet.”
Hsueh, who was a planner in his professional life, said a reduction of the housing in the plan will likely lead to the township sacrificing amenities. “There will have to be trade-offs,” said Hsueh about the possibilities of a plan with less housing. “People will have to figure out which things are musts and which are wants. I hope there will be a clear consensus.”
He said personally, he considers the “musts” to be traffic circulation, a bicycle and pedestrian friendly design, and the ability to get parking at the train station for residents.
“As a professional in this area I have personal opinions on what can be done and what should be done, but at the end of the day what is important to me is consensus,” said Hsueh.
Hsueh said the message sent by the voters will not bring about any changes in township policies, nor in his own approach to the process. Geevers said the vote makes it clear that “it is imperative for Hillier architecture to create a proposal that is much smaller in scale and scope,” she said. “Most residents want redevelopment, but they want to reduce the size of what has been in the plans up to this point.”
“Based on the framework of the plan presented last month, we are creating several different development scenarios offering a range of densities and associated infrastructure improvements,” said Hillier architect and West Windsor resident Bradley Walters. “We are eager to continue our collaboration with the Township, working with the Council and its new member, to prepare a plan that meets as many of the community’s goals as possible.”
Anklowitz said the residents have been clear on their goals for the redevelopment. “I believe the township wants a main street and they want the 1,”000 houses scaled back,” said Anklowitz at the victory party. “I’d like to see the township deal with the affordable housing deficit that we have.”
Anklowitz, who is an attorney and shop steward for CWA Local 1033, said: “I’d like to see Project Freedom come to West Windsor, It’s a good thing to do, it’s the right thing to do. It’s a place for people with disabilities to live. If we don’t address the affordable housing requirements, we subject ourselves to another builder’s remedy, which is how the Estates at Princeton Junction happened.”
At the party, there was talk that Morgan could be positioning to run for mayor when Hsueh’s current term ends. Morgan did not comment on those aspirations. Instead he said he and his fellow council members have a lot of work to do in the coming months. “We believe in the strength of the community and the power of all the intellect here. If we bring that to bear we’re going to come out with something everybody loves, and the first thing we’re going to start with is a main street on 571.”
