I grew up in West Windsor. I went to public school here for 13 years, spent summers and winters swimming for the West Windsor Whalers, and went to Mercer County Park for cultural festivals and fairs. Now I’m so thrilled that my father is running for mayor of West Windsor, to continue serving this great town as he has done for the past 22 years, from coaching our recreational soccer team to serving as School Board President and Councilman.
My father (or “Baba”, as I call him at home) and I are very close. This is in large part because he was the stay-at-home parent while I was growing up. He signed all my permission slips and came in to read to my class. Because of this, I got to see my mother excel at her job as a research scientist at a large pharmaceutical company. She was a shining example for my three sisters and me as she prepared talks and gained promotions. My dad encouraged and supported her every step of the way as an example of what a strong and confident man really is. “Leaning in” is a concept I grew up with, even though Sheryl Sandberg wouldn’t name it until many years later.
My dad loves serving the community even though things haven’t always come easy. He ran for school board several times before he was elected, once losing by only 5 votes to one of his friends. He persevered and not only got elected to the school board but became President. I am always so proud to hear from everyone how good he was in that role.
My dad also ran for mayor last election. He lost then, and after a few days of reflection he knew the only way forward was to continue serving, this time on WW Council. I’m apprehensive each time my dad puts himself in the public eye to run again. But he loves this town, and he truly believes that local politics can create important change. That’s why he’s running for mayor of West Windsor.
If he’s elected, I am confident he will be a successful mayor – just as he was a great school board President, and the best dad I could have ever asked for.
— Priya Marathe, West Windsor
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Our township faces several critical issues in the near-term future dealing with land use planning, budgets and financial planning, and administration. Having served West Windsor Township for two terms as Mayor, multiple terms as a Member of the governing body, and over a dozen years on the Planning and Zoning Boards, I strongly believe that what is required for managing our township today is current experience – experience on the current governing body, experience on current planning and zoning boards, and experience in decision making affecting their present and future impact on costs to the township and value to our residents.
It is for the above reasons that I endorse the candidacy of Hemant Marathe for Mayor and Linda Geevers and Virginia Manzari for Township Council, as being those individuals with the most and best
current experience in addressing and handling the critical issues that will shape and impact West Windsor Township in both the near and longer-term in terms of growth, costs of operations and taxes, and — most important — value to our township residents.
— Robert E. Murray, Former Mayor
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My wife, Laura, and I have known Virginia Manzari for 16 years. During that time I have been highly impressed not only by her many initiatives on behalf of the community but also by her intelligence, sensitivity and integrity as a person. She has advocated on behalf of many different issues and neighborhoods, and she regularly presents community concerns at council meetings. She was instrumental in getting a much needed left-turning light at a dangerous intersection on 571 and Southfield Rd where my family travels daily to and from work and school.
Please join us in voting for Virginia Manzari for Council on November 7th. She knows West Windsor. Her Cornell MBA and previous work as an executive for Procter & Gamble, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson make her well suited to tackle the broad range of business and financial issues facing us. We trust Virginia implicitly and believe she would do an outstanding job as a West Windsor Councilperson.
— John Kobus, West Windsor
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I am writing to enthusiastically endorse Virginia Manzari as an excellent candidate for West Windsor Council.
Recently I had the occasion to appear before the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a minor issue with my property. During the discussion, the township made an unusual and unreasonable request, not at all related to the reason I was there.
Ms. Manzari immediately grasped the unfairness of this demand and sprang to my defense. After negotiating with the Board, she reached an agreement that I found to be an equitable solution. Virginia was the only one on the Board to appreciate the situation I was being put in, and she spoke up for me in the name of fairness and common sense.
These are the kinds of attributes we need in the people we elect to council and the administration. I urge you to vote for Ms. Manzari and her running mates, Hemant Marathe and Linda Geevers on November 7. From their past actions, they are the candidates I trust to best represent the residents of West Windsor.
— Bradley Poller, West Windsor
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I am writing in support of Virginia Manzari, who is running for West Windsor Council. Having known Virginia for over 12 years both as a fellow parent as our children moved through the WW-P school system as well as a friend, she has always impressed me with the energy, enthusiasm and passion she brings to key issues facing our community. Whether at PTA meetings or Town Council sessions, she will always be a reasoned, articulate voice for the type of leadership we need to move our community forward.
Among the largest issues that West Windsor will be facing is the ultimate usage of the Howard Hughes property. For several years she has been warning residents about the huge housing developments they have built around the country and the one they are trying to build here. I trust her to fight hard to prevent this development. She has never been afraid to stand up and fight for what she believes in, and she always keeps the interests of those she’s fighting for front and center. Her knowledge, understanding, and passion about the challenges West Windsor faces will make her a great Council member.
Virginia is running on the Standing Up for West Windsor team with Hemant Marathe and Linda Geevers. I strongly urge you to vote for them all on November 7.
— Annette Briffa, West Windsor
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After watching the West Windsor mayoral debate forum telecasted on community access on October 2, 2017, it is clear to me who the best person is to lead the Township in the coming years. Hemant Marathe is my choice. I have known Hemant for the past 25 years in my personal community involvement as a volunteer. He has a firm grasp of issues, interacts with people in a very collegial manner and is always open to other opinions. His own public service is legendary as President of the School Board, Town Council member, and an overall activist for the community good.
I urge West Windsor residents to cast their ballots for a person who will lead the community to a future of continuous growth and prosperity. Hemant Marathe is that person.
— Tom Crane, West Windsor
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West Windsor’s choice of Mayor this November will have important, long-term consequences. I firmly believe that Hemant Marathe is the best candidate.
Hemant has been clear and consistent in his opposition to rezoning for residential housing for the Howard Hughes tract – allowing that rezoning would destroy West Windsor. I believe Hemant will work to increase commercial ratables, to reduce the tax burden on home owners, and I look forward to a change in administration so that the deplorable state of our roads will finally get some attention.
I worked closely with Hemant for nine years on the WW-P school board, and can testify to his good sense, his steadfast leadership, and his enduring commitment to what’s good for West Windsor.
I witnessed at first hand Hemant’s ability to analyze issues objectively, and to work effectively and energetically to promote consensus and inclusion of others’ perspective.
Hemant is a straight-shooter, honest, and tough, and he’s funny and smart and will make a great Mayor. I hope you’ll join me in voting for him for Mayor of West Windsor.
— Robert Johnson, West Windsor
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I want to inform the West Windsor residents that the candidates that we need in the upcoming election are candidates that listen to the residents’ concerns. This being said, I express my support for incumbents, Linda Geevers and Hemant Marathe and newcomer Virginia Manzari. My first-hand experience comes from the Canal Point Boulevard “Road Diet” that the current mayor designed in a way that pretty much rammed it down our throat and did not listen to the residents of the neighborhood that it impacted. I have to honestly say that Linda Geevers and Hemant Marathe were the only council people that realized this imbalance and not only listed to the residents of the neighborhood but actually defended our position with the mayor and his administration. This alone proved to me they really serve the concerns of the residents and not necessarily the agenda of a sitting mayor. I can also say that I have seen Virginia Manzari at council meeting for several years speaking up on specific issues against the current administration with quality details and most importantly, from the perspective of the taxpayer. This is a quality trait that we need on council for whom I give my full support and encourage the residents of West Windsor to support also. In closing, Linda Geevers, Hemant Marathe and Virginia Manzari are the candidates that will continue to listen to the concerns of the resident taxpayer and deserve your vote on Election Day.
— Michele Faul, West Windsor
