I am writing to endorse the candidacy of Hemant Marathe for mayor of West Windsor.
As a member of the school board for three years, I worked closely with Hemant and came to know him well. We became good friends. However, it is well known that Hemant and I disagreed on numerous issues. In light of this, people may wonder why I am supporting Hemant’s candidacy.
The answer is very simple. That Hemant and I disagreed so often and were still able to work together is exactly the reason I am supporting him. Being mayor of West Windsor is not as simple as getting everyone to agree with you. This rarely happens. Instead, being mayor means that you must excel at working both with people you agree with and those you disagree with; finding common ground and building consensus. This is how you accomplish great things for the community.
Hemant is a true leader. He works well with people who agree with him as well as people at the opposite end of the spectrum. Hemant bends over backward to find common ground and reach consensus, and believe me, I know this first hand. Hemant will make an excellent mayor, and it is my pleasure to support him.
I am asking the voters of West Windsor to elect Hemant Marathe the next mayor.
Todd Hochman
Daisy Court, Plainsboro
The writer is a former member of the Board of Education.
I am writing to support Dr. Hemant Marathe’s candidacy for Mayor of West Windsor.
I was 14 and in the eighth grade the first time I met Mr. Marathe, when I voiced some concern at a school board meeting on the “literacy in the content area” (LCA) periods the district had just adopted. Though I was chided by teachers and administrators for going above my station, Mr. Marathe engaged me afterwards and listened carefully to what I had to say. Even as a middle schooler, I was afforded the respect of a full member of our community.
Over the next few years as I served as WW-P High School North’s student representative on the school board, I came to admire Hemant’s ability to listen and bring people together. He is easy to work with and always civil, no matter how wide the disagreement. I witnessed the transformation of the board from a divided body to a group that sought consensus in decision making under his leadership. It is not easy being a school board president, managing a budget four times that of West Windsor’s, a workforce several times as large, and twice the constituency. If he can lead the school board, he can certainly lead the township.
West Windsor could benefit greatly from Hemant’s ability to bring people together. Hemant Marathe has a genuine concern for improving the community, for building consensus, and for getting things accomplished. No matter what your age, party affiliation, or stance on the issues, you will be listened to. This is key in a mayor.
West Windsor could use a change for the better. Please support Hemant Marathe for Mayor of West Windsor.
Peter Maa
The writer is a 2008 graduate of High School North
I’ve had the pleasure to know Hemant Marathe for nine years, and I have come to greatly admire his energy, intelligence, thoughtfulness, and dedication to the community.
I believe that in his many years on the school board (most of them as president), he has proved that he has the expertise and experience to be an excellent mayor. My husband, Bob Johnson, worked closely with Hemant for nine years on the board, so I was able to closely observe Hemant’s dedication to ensuring that all sides of an issue were considered before a decision was made. I came to understand how much work was involved in presiding over a board that oversaw hundreds of administrators and staff delivering education to 10,000 students, and the very many decisions he faced. I came to greatly admire his ability to balance the needs and desires of many competing interests, and to manage tough and important decisions in a thorough, considered, mature way.
As president of the school board, Hemant handled a budget that is four times the size of township budget. He proved his leadership skills in tackling fiscal challenges, like the massive slash in state aid to schools several years ago. He successfully managed two referenda that resulted in major necessary and essential improvements and additions to our schools.
And it is pretty remarkable that during the past 12 years, under Hemant’s leadership, as our students’ performances soared, school spending has been controlled far better than in neighboring districts and other high-performing districts around the state. This budget discipline is even more remarkable when you consider that township taxes have increased three times as fast as the school taxes over this period. We’re all dealing with challenges. Hemant has shown that with the right leadership, challenges can be overcome.
I have known and worked with many executives at the local, state, and national levels in a long career in public safety, and it is always most gratifying to work with those, like Hemant, who are honest and direct — no sidestepping and evasion — and who appreciate your being honest and direct. I know I look for that in a mayor, and I will be voting for Hemant on November 5. Time for change!
Linda Tartaglia
