Although West Windsor’s municipal elections normally happen in May, this year voters will decide on a Township Council member in November. When Kristin Appelget vacated her council seat earlier in the year, her term was due to expire in May, 2007. The remaining council members selected Barbara Pfeifer to fill the seat on an interim basis until the public could vote on Appelget’s elected replacement.
The public will vote now to keep Pfeifer or to be represented by Will Anklowitz, another one of the 10 people who applied for Appelget’s seat. The winner will have to face election again in May to remain on Council.
In addition to the council election, which is non-partisan, West Windsor voters will vote on an open space referendum question. It reads: “Shall the Township amend the current open space levy of five cents per $100 of assessed value of real property, to three cents per $100 assessment beginning with the 2007 tax year for the acquisition, development and maintenance of lands for conservation, with a minimum of 75 percent of such funds devoted to the acquisition of such lands and a maximum of 25 percent of such funds devoted to the development and maintenance of such lands?”
A “yes” vote on the referendum will lower the amount of open space tax each resident must pay. The township estimates that the average residential property, valued at $575,”000 is currently taxed at $287.50 annually. The reduction will result in a decrease of $115 for the average taxpayer, to $172.50. It will increase the amount of open space funds dedicated to maintaining open space land, and decrease the amount set aside for purchase of open space land, including paying debts incurred by buying the land in the past.
A “no” vote is a vote for an increase in open space taxes. If this referendum is voted down, the tax rate will return to seven cents per $100 of assessed value, as it was in 2005, before the township under went re-valuation.
Plainsboro has two committee member seats due up for re-election. Incumbent Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis and Committeeperson Ginger Gold Schnitzer are running unopposed.
In addition to the local votes, area residents will also vote on Senator — Robert Menendez vs. Thomas Kean Jr.; a member of the House of Representatives, Rush Holt vs. Joseph S. Sinagra; the District 12 Surrogate, Diane Gerofsky vs. Colette Coolbaugh; and for members of the Mercer and Middlesex County freeholder boards.
Polling Places:
Plainsboro residents can find a listing of election districts here.
West Windsor residents can find a listing of election districts here.
