##M:[more]##On May 8 we have a very big decision to make, do we continue to move forward with the open progressive process of the Princeton Junction redevelopment or do we get caught up in obstructionists’ politics of fear and misinformation? Vote for Franc Gambatese, Diane Ciccone, and Chuck Chang and we will continue forward in a very open and positive way.
We need to continue to work with the Mayor and other council members. Franc Gambatese has shown he is a strong voice of reason together with Diane Ciccone and Chuck Chang who will also be very valuable additions to the town Council.
Agreeing with the great vision of this team doesn’t make you a lap dog; it makes you a valuable part of the team. We need Franc’s independence, integrity, and business savvy along with Diane’s ability for critical analysis and independent thinking, and Chuck’s professional knowledge on the environment to move this project forward in an open, tax positive, and sustainable fashion.
Open space development is another key issue that this team will continue to move forward. They support keeping the increase to 25 percent of open space tax for maintenance and development. The other ticket has said they would roll that back to 10 percent. We need the additional funds for the continued development of both passive and active activities on the 48% of the township already set aside as open space. We all deserve spaces to play and relax.
Patrick Boyle
Windsor Road
I enthusiastically support Chuck Chang for the West Windsor Township Council in the upcoming May 2007 election. Chuck and his family have lived in town for 26 years and in that time he has been involved in our community, serving 10 years on the Planning Board in two separate administrations beginning in 1993.
As a former colleague of his on the Planning Board, I was impressed with his independence in making judgments and with the unique perspective he brought by virtue of his advanced degrees in occupational health and safety and environmental engineering, and his long-time worldwide professional experience at Bechtel Corporation and Exxon-Mobil. On the Council, he will bring a perspective not currently or prospectively represented among its members.
While born in Taiwan, Chuck has spent the major part of his life in the United States as a graduate student, and in his professional career that involved many years as a train commuter between West Windsor and New York City.
Now retired after 30 years in his profession. Chuck is committed to being a full-time Council member. Moreover, as you will find in meeting with him, Chuck is a nice guy, who promises to bring a level of civility as well as a measure of independence to Council deliberations.
Steve Decter
Alexander Road
I hope West Windsor residents will join me in voting for Franc Gambatese, Diane Ciccone, and Hsing-Chi “Chuck” Chang for township council on May 8. Franc Gambatese has shown both effective leadership and thoughtful representation of all residents as a current council member and I would like to see that continue. He has clearly shown his ability to achieve consensus and a willingness to work with township officials to make things happen. He has shown thoughtful representation in placing himself in the shoes of ordinary residents to see how proposed regulations will affect us.
An excellent example of the leadership of Gambatese, Ciccone, and Chang is found in the redevelopment process. They understand that it is not a question of whether or not to develop the proposed area but rather WHO will develop it. They support the mayor’s open process to find out what WE want in the redevelopment area. However, Gambatese, Ciccone, and Chang have not pre-determined that they will support the final plan. They are supporting the efforts that get to a plan that can be voted on and which includes OUR thoughts..
Mike Donnelly
West Windsor
Franc Gambatese has provided clear leadership during the last four years, including the ability to speak his mind on several key public safety issues. He increased the budget for sidewalk reconstruction, extensions and connections, adding significant pedestrian, and bicycle safety.
Diane Ciccone, is currently an alternate member of the WW Planning Board. She is an administrative law judge, a trained mediator, as well as an attorney practicing in New York. She is a train commuter and understands the issues in town. She will bring a sense of consensus building, and results-orientated dialogue with her fellow council members that will be a refreshing alternative to the rancorous discussion driving certain aspects of the current council deliberations.
Hsing-Chi “Chuck” Chang represents the third leg in this Triple Crown for West Windsor. Chuck currently sits on the Planning Board, serving over a combined 10 years over two terms. Chuck is an industrial hygiene, safety, and environmental protection professional and recently retired. Chang, a 26 year resident, brings to the Council a level of maturity and respect for the complicated decision making process needed to run this community.
Richard Eland
West Windsor
I would like to start out by stating my disappointments as a teen resident of West Windsor Township. We have too many strip malls and, I think, many teenagers like me would have benefited from a town center to meet friends and hang out together safely. Town centers can also help build a feeling of community for other residents.
Another disappointment is the lack of maturity I have noticed in the West Windsor township chat room. The chat room is a fantastic forum where people can express and share their opinions. However, if you choose to criticize a candidate, write your real name instead of using a pseudonym, as I noticed this year.
Even though I am unable to vote in this election, due to my age, I would like to endorse the West Windsor Together slate of Diane Ciccone, Franc Gambatese, and Chuck Chang. Contrary to the many stories perpetuated by the opposition, Ms. D, Franc, and Chuck are NOT in the mayor’s back pocket. Ms. Diane, someone who I have known for my whole life, is a smart, well-qualified, independent thinker. Ms D. is an administrative law judge and a trained mediator. With her mediation skills, the actions of the Council will satisfy all of West Windsor rather than just the vocal minority.
The majority of West Windsor residents, myself included, cannot support 10,”000 parking spaces, and 1,”000 housing units, and the entire slate cannot support this either. And, if the town center is ever built, the slate of Ciccone, Gambatese, and Chang, will make sure that it is safe for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Arjune Kalawar
Princeton Junction
Hsing-Chi “Chuck” Chang is the person to vote for in the upcoming West Windsor Council election. Knowing Chuck for 16 years provides me with ample opportunity to witness his true character. He is sincere, humble, kind ,and a well-respected scholar. Working with Chuck under several capacities convinced me that he is a team player. Moreover, he exemplifies the real meaning of citizenship. To embrace this beautiful town is to get involved and serve the community.
Hsing-Chi “Chuck” Chang has served on Township Planning Board. With his professional experience as an environmental scientist, he makes sure that all of us live in a sound and safe environment. We are facing a new crossroad in this township, most importantly, the redevelopment of transit village. I know Chuck will be hard at work to ensure nothing is being compromised while we as a community move forward. Progress, when managed properly, benefits everyone in a community.
West Windsor has experienced tremendous growth, in a positive way.
It couldn’t have happened without the concerted efforts from the Mayor’s office and the Council. Both Mr. Gambatese and Ms. Ciccone have been the positive forces behind this.
Su-Mei Kao
3 Worchester Lane
Princeton Junction
There is no such thing as “Status Quo.” Life goes on, like it or not. To state that “Status Quo” is best for West Windsor is like telling a child not to grow and mature. There is no choice about change. It happens. The only real choice is how it happens, not if !
We have the opportunity to make positive, beneficial choices for change in West Windsor. Frank Gambatese has maintained an independent, non-partisan stance ever since first elected to the West Windsor Town Council. His firm support for issues such as the expansion of the WW Senior Center physical facility and programming is a perfect example, as well as preservation of “green” forested areas and “open space.” Fellow team members Hsing-Chi “Chuck” Chang and Diane Ciccone, both full members of the WW Planning Board, have been just as steadfast in using their education and experience in moving West Windsor forward toward a strong future, a town in which their children,grandchildren, and great grandchildren will be proud to live.
This team supports new business to reduce property taxes. They have long term visions of planned development rather than the helter skelter development of individual builders.
Our local government must remain bi-partisan. Vote for Gambatese, Chang, and Ciccone on Tuesday, May 8. These are people we can trust to always maintain their focus on open government, allowing West Windsor to flourish and continue to flourish for generations to come.
Janet Lerner
West Windsor
Franc Gambatese, Hsing-chi “Chuck” Chang, and Diane Ciccone, are the most qualified candidates for West Windsor at this important time when crucial decisions are being made for the future of all residents. Franc Gambatese is currently a valuable member of the Township Council, contributing incisive, thoughtful judgment, while making sure that a non-adversarial relationship with the Administration and Mayor guarantees that all the resources they can tap for West Windsor from local, state, and federal sources will be available to all residents.
Chuck Chang, an environmental, health, and safety expert, will be able to provide his expertise on open space, traffic, and parking issues; and Diane Ciccone, an arbitration judge, and mediator, will, as she says, “ask questions that are not obstructive questions to get a consensus,” and will foster a sense of unity among all the diverse residents of the entire West Windsor community.
The West Windsor Together team (www.westwindsortogether.com) will be a positive force for West Windsor’s future.
Allen Marx
101 Claridge Court
I was very disheartened reading in the paper of the few residents resisting any kind of development by insisting that: the train station area doesn’t need to be developed, it only needs a broom; the 571-Acme area doesn’t need to be correctly structured, it only needs a coat of paint. What possible downside to West Windsor residents can there be in reasonably developing what, under any modern day criteria, are depressing areas.
There are no politicians capable of restoring “Leave It to Beaver” land in West Windsor. However, anyone interested in enhancing the life they are living now can improve it in the voting booth. On May 8, join me in electing a progressive team of council candidates — Diane Ciccone, Chuck Chang, Franc Gambatese. They are bringing their diverse backgrounds to focus on today’s quality-of-life problems with present-day thinking. When you talk to them about your issues in 2007 in West Windsor, they’re listening!
Barbara McCarthy
Nestlewood Way
After living 35 years in Los Angeles, my wife and I returned to New Jersey to be closer to our adult children. We chose to live in West Windsor, despite high property taxes and having no school age children, because we saw West Windsor to be a vibrant and diverse township with a forward-thinking township administration.
We strongly support the efforts of the mayor and incumbent Councilman Gambatese and Planning Board members Dr. Hsing Chi (Chuck) Chang and Diane Ciccone to bring careful and well-thought out redevelopment to the train station area. From our painful Los Angeles experience, we can predict that, without this thoughtful planning, the Princeton Junction area will end up looking like so many Los Angeles suburban neighborhoods with ugly strip malls, garish signage, and crime.
Stopping the redevelopment planning, as some present council members propose, will not prevent development of the Princeton Junction area. All that will do is ensure that the development will lack coherence and be only for the benefit of the developers, not the West Windsor residents.
We believe adding Dr. Chang, with his environmental background, and Diane Ciccone, with her extensive legal experience, to the township council will benefit all West Windsor residents. For this reason, we are supporting the team of Franc Gambatese, Chuck Chang, and Diane Ciccone. Each candidate offers unique skills and credentials to the residents of West Windsor. In short, they are an exceptional and diverse team for a wonderfully diverse township.
Daniel McCarthy
46 Nestlewood Way
I am writing to tell you my reasons for supporting the “West Windsor Together” team running for West Windsor Town Council on May 8. The team consists of Franc Gambatese, Diane Ciccone, and Hsing-chi “Chuck” Chang.
Franc Gambatese, is currently a member and a past president of the West Windsor Council. Franc has been a resident of West Windsor for 10 years and an active member of the community. He seeks to bring more businesses to the township to help stabilize taxes.
Franc is a business executive in the community and a small business owner. He is also the father of three children. He is concerned with important issues that affect all our children — namely pedestrian and road safety.
Diane Ciccone is a daily commuter to New York and a current member of our Planning Board. Diane is also concerned with making West Windsor a more pedestrian-friendly town and favors lowering the high property taxes. Her experience as a very active community member, attorney, and mediator will help the Township Council in making the right decisions.
Finally, the third member of the “West Windsor Together” team is Hsing-Chi “Chuck” Chang. Chuck is a retired environmental scientist who currently serves on the West Windsor Planning Board. He is most concerned with preserving open space and encouraging environmental sustainability.
Nick Schiera
Benjamin Court
