For the first time in decades, Robbinsville’s ballot will not feature retiring Mayor Dave Fried. This year, both the municipal and school board contests are uncontested.
In the municipal election, Councilman Mike Todd is running unopposed for mayor. It’s the four-year seat being vacated by Fried, who announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t be running for reelection.
Two four-year council seats are also on the ballot. Running for reelection are incumbents Deborah Blakely and Hal English.
On the school board ballot, three candidates are running unopposed for three three-year seats. They are incumbents Raghu Nandan, Peter J. Oehlberg, and Jeffrey Pierro.
Below are biographical summaries and candidate responses to questions posed by the Robbinsville Advance for mayor and council.
Similar coverage is set to appear in next month’s issue for the school candidates.
The Q&A begins with Todd and follows with Blakely and English.
Mike Todd for mayor
Mike Todd has lived in Robbinsville with his wife, Gina, since 2003. They have two daughters, Caitlyn, who is attending The College of New Jersey, and Alyssa, who attends Robbinsville High School.
Todd grew up in Central Pennsylvania and Manalapan. He attended York College of Pennsylvania and graduated from Mercer County College with a degree in energy utility technology. He works as an electric transmission supervisor for Public Service Electric & Gas Co. (PSE&G), where he is charged with strengthening the electric transmission infrastructure across the state and leading efforts to restore power after storms.
Most recently, he has led efforts to establish an unmanned aircraft system (drone) program for the utility, with both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight operations.
First elected to serve on the Robbinsville Township Council in 2021, he is currently council president for the second year in a row. He had previously served as chairperson of the Robbinsville Township Recreation and Cultural Arts Committee and was a member of the Robbinsville Township Planning Board.
A longtime softball coach, Todd was an active member of the Robbinsville Little League board of directors for five years and served as president for two of those years. He is also an assistant coach on his daughter’s travel softball team and is a board member of his neighborhood homeowners association.
Candidate Questions
Q: You will be succeeding Robbinsville’s first directly elected mayor, Dave Fried, after more than two decades of leadership. How do you plan to establish your own leadership style while maintaining continuity for residents and businesses?
Todd: Following in Mayor Fried’s footsteps will be no easy task. He has set the bar high in running effective and efficient local government, and I am fortunate to have been able to learn from him along the way.
As we enter this new chapter, maintaining continuity is essential for both residents and local businesses. My vision is to build on the strong foundation that has been established, ensuring stable leadership while introducing innovative ideas to further strengthen our town.
My leadership style is grounded in operational excellence, hands-on involvement, and collaborative problem-solving. I believe in leading by example and supporting my team through active participation.
Whether it means grabbing a shovel to clear out a storm drain, diving into a complicated Microsoft Excel worksheet, or helping to install a scoreboard at one of our fields, I try to take on challenges with an open mind and a positive attitude.
As wonderful and educated as our community is, there is still more division among us than I think there needs to be.
Ultimately, my goal is to bring this community together and foster a positive, inclusive environment for all. I am 100% dedicated to building on Mayor Fried’s legacy while guiding Robbinsville toward continued growth and unity.
Q: Robbinsville is close to full buildout, with only limited parcels left for development. How do you envision managing the final phases of development, particularly along Route 130 and in Town Center South?
Todd: Redevelopment along Route 130 and Town Center South has been a top priority since I joined council in 2021. Over the past couple of years, we have seen an uptick in redevelopers expressing interest in various projects.
However, we are also trying to be smart about which projects we move forward with. There are numerous discussions and subcommittee meetings to map out what makes sense and what may not. We want to ensure each project fits our community and provides a positive benefit for residents.
Most of the properties on Route 130 are smaller in scale, so we will not be seeing multiple big-box stores. That will avoid creating a concrete jungle of stores, parking lots and the excessive traffic that comes with it.
We have wetlands along the northbound side of Route 130 and the old Camden and Amboy Railroad bed parallel to the southbound side. As projects come along, we strive to create something that fits in and will continue to be viable for years to come.
The same goes for Town Center South. It has always been planned as a mirror image of the existing Town Center, but over the years we have been able to reflect as proposals have come and gone.
Currently, a developer is preparing to build an upscale senior apartment building on the former Kushner tract behind the new Project Freedom/Freedom Village. It is going to be beautiful, and we look forward to seeing the finished product with all its amenities.
In working with our Community Development team, we have coordinated other proposed projects around the extension of the future Liberty Street, which will run parallel to Route 33 between Walgreens and Route 130. This will help alleviate rush-hour traffic congestion on Route 33.
Overall, we have a good plan in place for both corridors, and a great deal of thought has gone into what is being built and where it makes sense to promote healthy economic growth.
Q: Mayor Fried frequently cited police recruitment and training as top concerns. How will you ensure Robbinsville continues to attract top-quality officers and maintain its reputation as one of the safest towns in New Jersey?
Todd: Police, fire and EMS recruitment and retention remain a top concern, not only for Robbinsville but for most municipalities across the state.
I recently spoke with Chief Bill Swanhart on this topic, and we discussed the hiring challenges many police departments are now facing. Traditionally, they would receive upwards of 80 applications for a job opening, but now they see only 8 to 10 applicants on average.
Robbinsville’s Police Department is well respected within the law enforcement community and leads the way in many initiatives. From their community policing efforts to the Robbinsville SAFE Team program to their recent full accreditation, the department is a great place for new recruits to begin their career.
To find excellent candidates, the department is attending more job fairs than ever before, including at police academies in surrounding counties. While we are seeing fewer applications overall, the quality of the officers we are hiring is high.
I plan to work closely with Chief Swanhart and Chief Dan Schaffener (township fire chief) to monitor hiring processes and review existing employee hiring and retention policies.
Q: Robbinsville is currently in compliance with affordable housing requirements. What’s your philosophy on meeting future obligations, and do you support creative approaches like those used with Newtown Village (formerly Mercer Mobile Home Park)?
Todd: Meeting our fourth-round affordable housing obligation was the result of strategic planning over the past decade by Mayor Fried and his administration. Purchasing Newtown Village was a huge benefit for both the township and the residents who live there.
We just completed significant infrastructure improvements to the water, sewer and roadways, and those units represented a large part of our fourth-round number. Looking ahead, it is essential that we remain focused, as we will absolutely encounter new obligations within the next decade.
As we evaluate projects in the planning phase, we are proactively considering affordable housing solutions to address requirements anticipated in the fifth round. Robbinsville is close to full buildout, and we would still like to preserve more open space in the township whenever we can — another achievement of Mayor Fried’s legacy.
We will need to continue being creative in finding opportunities for affordable housing with the little land we have remaining. We also need to engage the New Jersey Legislature to revisit overall affordable housing initiatives and question whether they still make sense as currently implemented.
While Robbinsville achieved its fourth-round numbers, many other towns are still struggling to meet their third-round obligations.
Q: Voters have been divided on open space tax increases in recent years. What role do you see for open space in Robbinsville’s future, and how will you balance preservation with fiscal responsibility?
Todd: Residents approved a 1-cent-per $100 increase in 2023, which gave the Open Space Fund the boost it needed to begin maintaining and creating access to existing open spaces.
The largest beneficiary was Miry Run, with almost two miles of walkways under construction, a new community garden that is now open and a renovated recreation office that will allow for public meeting space starting this fall.
While I want to save as many large open properties currently being farmed, we must prioritize and spend wisely. Having just purchased a portion of Oasis Farms, we would still like to preserve the Wittenborn Farm as well.
We recently conducted an audit of our open space trust fund and still have enough to purchase that property if and when it becomes available. In a few years, additional debt will fall off the books, which will allow us to pursue other key properties as they become available. This will limit the potential for more warehousing or large-scale residential developments.
Q: Robbinsville has pioneered shared services with Hightstown, Allentown and Hamilton. Do you plan to expand these arrangements, and are there new opportunities you would like to explore for cost savings or efficiency?
Todd: Robbinsville has been leading the way in shared services for many years, and I will continue to look for additional opportunities.
While we are always exploring synergies with other municipalities, I also plan to sit down with Dr. Patrick Pizzo, our new Robbinsville schools superintendent, to evaluate current shared services and see where else we can find savings for both the school district and the township.
Q: The township is transitioning operations into the former Roma/Investors Bank building. What’s your vision for making the most of that space, and how do you plan to handle the sale or reuse of the current municipal building?
Todd: I am looking forward to seeing the township move operations into the new building. As of this printing, it looks like some departments will begin moving in by mid-to-late December.
The shared Municipal Court with Hightstown Borough is a top priority, and it appears they will be the first department in. Having just about everyone — public works, fire and senior center will remain at their current locations — under one roof is going to allow for more efficient operations and improved communication.
We are also incorporating video streaming technology for both the courtroom and council chambers. Livestreaming meetings will allow greater transparency for residents.
As for the current building, there are plans to offer meeting space for township-based nonprofit groups. We have also discussed the possibility of converting 2298 Route 33 into a community center.
We must maintain the current building for another two years. After that, we can consider auctioning it off to turn it back into a ratable property or keep it as a community center. I would like to get public feedback before we decide which direction to go.
Q: Robbinsville’s budgets have been relatively stable, even through challenging economic cycles. What steps will you take to ensure long-term fiscal health, especially as ratable growth slows with buildout nearly complete?
Todd: By learning from Mayor Fried and diving into the budgetary process, I have gained valuable insight into how the administration has maintained stable municipal taxes.
I will continue to use the same logic and look for additional revenue opportunities, especially within the Route 130 redevelopment area. Decisions made today affect budgets two to three years down the road, so we need to keep planning diligently.
Some of these projects include new garbage trucks and ambulance upgrades, so it is important to keep analyzing priorities and balance them against planned revenue. The biggest variable is health insurance costs, which we have little control over. We will continue to find the best solutions for both employees and residents while being creative when necessary.
Q: Is there anything else you would like voters to know that we have not addressed?
Todd: With every question I ask and every decision I make as a councilman, I apply common sense to find the best solution for our township. We live in an amazing community and one of the most desirable places to live in the state.
My goal while serving as mayor is to maintain my commitment to our community by continuing to move us in a positive direction. I love this town, I love my neighbors, and I am proud to have raised my family here.
We have a great team between our council, administration and every employee who works for the township. At the end of the day, along with every Robbinsville resident, we are all family that should support each other in both good times and bad times. Fortunately, I see a lot of good times ahead.
Blakely and English for Council
Deborah Blakely has been a resident of Robbinsville for 25 years. She has a Bachelor of Science from Trenton State College (now known as The College of New Jersey) and a Master of Arts from St. John’s University.
She currently works at the Sunny Days Sunshine center in West Windsor as a speech language pathologist. She has expertise in early childhood communication disorders, autism and speech sound disorders. She is an avid animal lover, attends Life Tree Church and in her spare time enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Blakely’s first husband, Tom, passed away unexpectedly in 2008. She shares a life with her partner Jim Moscarello and her two daughters, Brielle who attends Rutgers University and Maggie who attend Georgetown University.
Hal English has lived in the Town Center section of Robbinsville for 12 years with his wife, Diane.
He attended Mercer County Community College and Boston College. He is president and chief executive officer of one of the largest chambers of commerce in New Jersey. He previously served as Robbinsville’s director of community development and as vice president at First Choice Bank in Robbinsville.
English is a Robbinsville councilman and an honorary commander at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. He has served on boards including Project Freedom, United Way, Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, Trenton Downtown Association and the Hamilton YMCA.
His community honors include the Community Service Award from Contact Mercer, the Humanitarian Award from Kidsbridge, the Community Quarterback Award from United Way and the Legacy Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Candidate Questions
Q: The township has managed to pass budgets in recent years with little or no municipal tax increase. Given the increasing costs in a number of areas, and current economic instability in general, how will you look to keep Robbinsville’s budget stable and taxes manageable while still meeting community needs?
Blakely: Every year when Mayor Fried hands us the budget to digest, adjust as needed and eventually pass, fellow council members are always cognizant of our residents and how the burden of any additional taxes could impact them.
I take pride in being on a team that has managed to pass budgets with little or no municipal tax increase. It is not an easy task.
We will continue to be creative in looking for grants, requesting assistance from the state and exploring more shared services with other towns. We also budget for the future to keep taxes fair.
Costs for services continue to increase, so we constantly strive to give our residents all that they want and need at no extra cost. I will do my best to continue the amazing services Robbinsville offers while respecting household finances.
English: Mayor Fried and prior councils have done an extraordinary job of holding the line on taxes through development and redevelopment. They have literally paved the way forward for several years to come by getting us out of debt this coming year on the Town Center South parcels and focusing redevelopment where it makes sense.
The economy is uncertain, so we will keep in mind what is going on nationally and locally during the next budget season and will be conservative in our projections. I believe Mayor Fried is leaving us in great shape for the next few years.
Q: There are still some tracts of land that can be developed commercially. Given the overdevelopment of warehouses and the difficult commercial office market, what types of development would you like to see happen on those properties?
Blakely: I have lived in Robbinsville for 25 years and have seen a lot of growth and change, which is hard for many of us — me included. I will continue to vote to save as much open space as possible.
We live in a beautiful town, and I don’t want to see it overcrowded or overdeveloped. Smart growth is needed as we look ahead.
We have been working hard to redevelop Route 130 to bring businesses into town and grow our ratable base. Council supports designing a redevelopment master plan, so we have more say in what goes on Route 130.
I am not in favor of residential development on Route 130. We pride ourselves on being a community, and I would not want neighborhoods on a major highway unless we can safely tie them into existing neighborhoods.
Engish: Debbie Blakely and I have had conversations about the Route 130 Redevelopment Area that council created to have better control over what is built there.
We believe that next year we should be creating a redevelopment plan for the entire stretch, similar to a master plan, to answer that question. We would like several public meetings where valuable public input could guide us as to what residents both want and don’t want on Route 130.
Not residential up on the highway, and certainly commercial and retail. A supermarket would be great.
Q: Robbinsville is currently in compliance with affordable housing requirements through 2035. What’s your philosophy on meeting future obligations, and do you support creative approaches like those used in the past, such as Newtown Village (formerly Mercer Mobile Home Park)?
Blakely: Many accolades should be given to our administration, township affordable housing office and Community Development Department. They have worked closely together to stay in compliance with affordable housing requirements through 2035.
We need to stay creative as we approach the next round. Newtown Village was an excellent example of creativity used to comply with requirements, so yes, I support creative approaches as we face the future.
Many surrounding towns share concerns regarding affordable housing obligations as parcels are developed or saved as open space. I will work to advocate for our town regarding these obligations, so they continue to make sense.
English: The Mobile Home Park solution was brilliant because it was already there. I’m not sure I see any more of those opportunities, but if one comes along, I will always have an open mind.
I am not in favor of any more mobile home parks. Again, Mayor Fried is leaving us in great shape, and we just need to be sure the affordable housing issue comes up in every discussion of new residential development.
Q: What is your view on cannabis business regulations in Robbinsville, and how will you balance economic opportunity with community concerns?
Blakley: When cannabis was legalized, I was initially against it being in our town. I researched, spoke to our police chief, and put my personal opinions aside, because true leadership means doing what makes sense for the entire community.
It makes sense for our residents to have safe access to products and for our town to benefit from the revenue.
When we voted to allow cannabis, I had discussions with Mayor Fried requesting that a percentage of the profits go to educating students and residents on the potential dangers of addiction, as well as the impact of drugs on health.
The mayor and council were extremely supportive, so we now sponsor Embright Education in Pond Road Middle School, empowering our students with knowledge and mindfulness.
English: Prior councils keeping it out of town on the edges and as far from schools as possible is perfect for me. Going back to the tax issue, the amount of funding other towns are collecting is a huge benefit.
What council has done by committing some funds from cannabis revenue for police and antidrug education programs is a good thing.
Q: There’s always a demand for recreational spaces. How would you look to continue to provide for that demand?
Blakely: Whenever I am asked what my priorities as a leader are, safety always comes first. However, recreation is also important for health and well-being.
Our Recreation Department offers many programs from preschool through seniors. I am a strong supporter of recreational spaces and using our fields and paths to bring people together as a community.
Miry Run is starting to flourish with a community garden, farmers market and soon-to-be walking paths. Connection is very important for our well-being, and I will always do my best to bring Robbinsville together.
English: Robbinsville has great recreation spaces and programs, and we are always being asked for more. However, we must always keep the budget, taxes and a rainy-day fund in mind. Fields are expensive.
We are currently building miles of trails in Miry Run Park, capturing part of Oasis Farms as open space and waiting to purchase the Wittenborn Farm property, all for passive recreation.
We are building an all-inclusive playground at Community Park and looking at requests for more cricket, basketball and pickleball. Obviously, we can’t do it all at once but will prioritize and build what is truly needed into future budgets. Some open space requires maintenance, and we must be mindful of the cost of upkeep as well.
Q: Is there anything I haven’t asked about that you would like to address or see addressed in your upcoming term?
Blakely: One of my proudest moments when I first became a councilwoman was cutting the ribbon to open the inclusive playground at Tantum Park — the first in our county.
I worked hard by writing letters to legislators to help fund another inclusive playground. Today, the playground at Community Park is under construction, and I am beyond excited.
I have helped place communication boards at our parks and will continue to be a voice for the most vulnerable in our town. I would love to partner with police and other council members to bring Safety Town to Robbinsville, similar to Hamilton’s program.
I love our town and the people who live here, and I promise to put all my energy into these next four years to keep Robbinsville thriving.
English: We haven’t touched on our schools. I look forward to a close relationship with the school administration and school board members. They have a job that gets tougher each year and a difficult budget heavily dependent on the state.
I am looking forward to ideas and conversations that can help. There is nothing more important to me than our children and their future.
Hal English.,
