There may be a contest for Plainsboro Township Committee after all.##M:[more]##
Republican candidate Stacey Zieminski, 21, dropped out of the race on September 16, after months of political inactivity in her campaign against Democratic Mayor Peter Cantu for a three-year seat on township committee.
In her place, the Plainsboro GOP has selected William M. Zeltman, 33, of 2113 Aspen Drive to run for the seat. Zeltman’s filing came just a few days before the September 19 deadline for replacing a candidate on the ballot in the November 8 general election.
According to sources, Zieminski was only chosen to run for township committee in an attempt to drum up local support for Bret Schundler in the GOP primary in June. Although she did make an appearance at the township’s annual Founder’s Day celebration in May, Zieminski has never attended a township committee meeting.
Zeltman, a four-year township resident, said he decided to run after he found out that Zieminski was dropping out of the race. “When I heard that Stacey wasn’t going to be able to run, I spoke to the (Republican) committee here in town and filed the paperwork with them.”
An account manager for Healthcare Dimensions for a year and a half, he markets a product called Silver Shoes that provides a Medicare benefit for seniors so they can exercise for free. Prior to his current job, Zeltman says he owned a health club, and a personal training studio.
“The mayor’s done a great job in town for many years but it’s time for a change,” says Zeltman. “I’ve talked in recent months to many residents in town. There’s a large number of people who feel the same way and they think we need to move in another direction.”
“I would like to lower property taxes,” replies the new candidate when asked for the reasons he is running. “There are also some environmental issues in the township.”
“There’s also an issue with traffic lights,” he adds, “and the amount of gasoline wasted because the traffic lights are not in synch on Scudders Mill and Plainsboro roads.”
Zeltman feels the township is not doing enough for the school district. “My parents are both public school teachers and I believe town needs to more than it is doing now to support the schools.”
He also points out that the Democrats have held a 5-0 majority on the township committee for more than a decade. “I’m looking to put a little balance in township committee. It’s been too one-sided for a while.”
