Editor’s note: The following are letters received by Community News both for and against the West Windsor Nov. 5 referendum to change from nonpartisan to partisan municipal elections.
Vote “No” on the change to partisan elections
We moved to West Windsor forty-seven years ago. At that time, Republicans were the majority party and we had a partisan municipal system. Since people tend to vote along party lines, Democrats felt this put them at a disadvantage and successfully petitioned in 1993 to change the township to its present non-partisan system. As a result, our elected officials are now elected based solely on merit and are divided by personal party affiliation: three Democrats, two Republicans and one Independent. They work together cooperatively and are free to focus on local issues, without divisive outside party influence.
Today, after an influx of newcomers from nearby cities, Democrats enjoy almost a 4 to 1 numerical advantage over Republicans among registered voters in West Windsor. They now stand to benefit from changing back to the old partisan system and have petitioned again to change it to their advantage. In our last election, state and county officials strongly backed a Democratic Party slate and donated $50,000 to their campaign. Fortunately, West Windsor voters resisted outside pressure and elected only one of the three Democratic Party candidates on their slate.
It is very much in our interest as West Windsor residents to reject the present petition to change the township’s form of government back to the old partisan system in which our candidates for office are selected by party mandate and are obligated to follow outside direction. Our needs and goals often differ from those of the state and county. The issues that define the two national parties are irrelevant at the municipal level. West Windsor is best managed by West Windsor residents. On November 5th I urge you vote to maintain the non-partisan system that has served us so well. It works!
Paul Murphy
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I have lived in West Windsor 38 years, and stay because we believe this town is a special place. I believe part of what makes our town this way is our non-partisan form of government. People run for leadership positions and the community votes based on issues relevant to our community and the positions candidates have on those. Once elected, the mayor and council members can discuss the issues as they relate to West Windsor, rather than based on the influence or philosophy of those in other town, county or state political parties.
Our current non-partisan government is inclusive; anyone can run and get elected. We often have candidates with a wide range of views and backgrounds running together – the focus is not on any party affiliation but on the fit for West Windsor. Our current system is also inclusive of West Windsor voters – all can participate in an equal way. In a partisan system, there is a primary – independent voters are completely shut out of a primary if they wish to remain independent, and others can only vote for candidates under the party in which the voter is registered.
I want leaders looking at our local issues pragmatically, not based on a political philosophy or worried about aligning themselves with others in their party at any level. Please vote “No” to the ballot question in the November election.
Diane Hasling
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In 1992 when we voted to change West Windsor’s form of government to Faulkner Act nonpartisan, one of our reasons was that coalitions of qualified registered voters could run together regardless of political party affiliation.
Now I have received campaign literature from the group “WW for Representation” urging a change back to the old partisan ways. This is dispiriting because the reason given for the change is “greater transparency,” and the literature actually outlines a system of lesser transparency. There is no explanation of how a coalition of candidates from different parties or affiliations can be placed together on the ballot in Partisan elections. A voter can vote in a primary—one primary—but would be forced to leave the other candidate(s) out to dry. Non-Partisan elections in West Windsor has worked for 32-years because it allows all qualified candidates to run on mixed tickets, if they so choose; no primaries which limit who can run with whom.
It couldn’t be too difficult to find out each candidate’s political party or affiliation. Voters in West Windsor are intelligent and can easily find out such information by simply asking the candidate! I believe most people are more in-tune with wanting to know the positions of candidates on local issues, rather than changing to Partisan elections just to see the candidates’ names under traditional ballot columns.
Please join me in voting No on the ballot question which will result in keeping West Windsor’s long standing Non-Partisan elections intact. I believe this is best for our Township.
Alison Miller
Miller is a former member of West Windsor Council
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I was a member of the Charter Study Commission which recommended West Windsor’s present nonpartisan form of government in August 1992.
Heeding the observation of a former mayor testifying before our commission that political issues in West Windsor had no connection to the issues of national parties, we unanimously recommended a nonpartisan form of government to the voters of West Windsor.
Thirty-two years later, I still feel that we did the right thing, and I applaud Keep West Windsor Nonpartisan for validating our recommendation. I urge all West Windsor voters to support the efforts of Keep West Windsor Nonpartisan and vote “No” on the ballot question on 5 November.
John L. Roeder
I am a West Windsor resident, and volunteering my time for www.KeepWWNonPartisan.com as vice-chairperson. We oppose the ballot question to bring partisan politics to West Windsor and are encouraging all voters to vote “No” on the question.
Joe Charles
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On Monday, Oct. 21, the “Yes” group, “WW Voters for Transparency and Representation,” crossed a line by launching a despicable personal attack on former Council President Alison Miller just because she publicly endorsed voting no on the West Windsor ballot question. We are appalled, and we hope every West Windsor resident who saw this reprehensible email blast is equally upset.
This is the kind of national party level vicious attack that we expect if West Windsor becomes a partisan town. By being nonpartisan, we have managed to avoid these divisive personal attacks of neighbor vs. neighbor and kept campaign discussion to issues and accomplishments by leaving party politics out of it.
We would expect an attack ad like this to be shown by the worst of candidates late at night after the children have gone to bed. Alison is not even running for office. Is this what we want for West Windsor?
Alison has given over 30 years of her life in service to West Windsor, and has been a leading member of the local Democratic Party. If disagreeing on one issue leads to personal vilification, would we expect any independent thought from any candidate chosen by the proponents of this question? No wonder they are pushing a system that leads to unopposed elections and party leader selection of candidates.
We call on Yingchao Zhang, Dale Lessne, James Appenzeller, Sweekrutha Shankar, Henry Hsiao, Elizabeth Wagner, Ben Finkelstein, Willa Inlender, Remi Meehan and Grace Power, the signers of the Oct. 21 email, to publicly apologize to Alison Miller for this unjustified personal attack.
Andy Lupo
Joe Charles
Meena Tomar
Lupo, Charles and Tomar are members of Keep West Windsor Nonpartisan.
Vote “Yes” on the change to partisan elections
I recently helped gather signatures to put a referendum on the 2024 November ballot. My motivation to do the legwork was neither to show support nor opposition in changing the current West Windsor nonpartisan to partisan question.
My intent was to gain some insight as to whether or not other residents in West Windsor are/were like me—unsure about current politics but curious about whether our township residents care where West Windsor is going.
In regard to the referendum, the nomenclature around partisan vs. nonpartisan was a great way to measure interest by registered voters around politics or disengagement from politics.
A few people said outright no thanks, not interested in politics and closed their doors. However, the vast majority of folks who signed the petition asked what the referendum intends to change and whether the referendum is asking voters to choose sides.
It took a little bit more conversation to dispel the notion that by signing the petition they are choosing sides right then and there. Signatures on the petition meant that the question is successfully placed on the ballot for all voters to decide for themselves.
There had been conversations around wanting to choose candidates for elected WW Township positions on their own merits regardless of party affiliation. Others pointed out that knowing more about the candidates allowed insights into party affiliation and possible party pressure and direction.
For me at least, it is hard to know if an elected official will abide by campaign promises. Democracy works when there is more transparency and candidates stand up for their right to leadership by showing others from whom their support is coming from, regardless if the candidate is Independent, Republican or Democrat.
Whichever way the voters decide, and by what methodology, or research we do or don’t do when deciding who to vote for, it is our choice and we should be given this choice.
Staying in touch with what’s going on in our township is one of the reasons why we are registered voters. If we were truly apathetic we wouldn’t vote. Recent polls show that even though there are many registered voters, few come out to vote. Just by comparison, the broad statistics show communities such as Princeton had a 35% turnout in off year elections while WW had only 26%.
WW residents do care about our school system, property values, community look and feel, safety, etc. WW residents rely on our township leaders to improve our community and to do what’s best for the community at large. Since we all feel this way, it is important for us to stay in touch and see where our leaders are taking us.
I was impressed by the conversations I’ve had along the way. I feel that there are many who want to know more, but find it hard to get more insight to what’s going on in our township and community.
Finding easily digestible info and facts is a major obstacle. This coincides with the many remarks that more transparency is needed.
Community awareness can improve dramatically when there is an effective community website that encourages feedback. Printed materials on major issues and decisions explaining the pros, cons, obstacles and economic impact would go a long way to informing residents what’s current and where we are going.
From the little legwork I’ve done I have heard that our community does care and want to hear more. With increased party transparency and more timely information on current issues and intended township direction, we could see improvements in off year election turnouts and increased community engagement and feedback.
Bob Wong
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West Windsor voters have an important decision on the ballot about the municipal electoral process: whether or not to shift local elections to a partisan structure. I believe what’s best for West Windsor is about standing proudly by our values and ensuring our leaders are clear about what they represent. It is not about keeping political beliefs hidden or pretending that neutrality serves everyone equally.
Being open about party affiliation is not something to shy away from; it’s something to embrace. Our political values are a reflection of who we are, what we believe, and the future we want to build together. It’s a sign of integrity bolstered by true conviction when candidates proudly declare their political ideological affiliations, whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent. These affiliations provide voters with a clear understanding of where candidates stand on basic issues that matter most to our community—development, the environment, housing, education, and more. This basic information helps the constituency understand their priorities, their vision, and their values.
Right now, our nonpartisan local elections promote ambiguity because they don’t allow political affiliations. This absence of basic information obscures where candidates truly stand and hides the core principles that guide their decisions. This lack of clarity hurts the community, making it harder to hold our leaders accountable and easier for divisive, backroom agendas to creep into our politics.
Our leaders should be clear about their values, transparent about their affiliations, and committed to representing the entire community. Party affiliation is not something to be ashamed of—it’s a clear and honest declaration of one’s beliefs and vision. This is why the proposal to shift to partisan local elections is so critical. It’s about embracing transparency and holding candidates to a higher standard. With partisan elections, voters will no longer have to guess where candidates stand. It gives voters the tools they need to make informed decisions and ensures that our local government truly reflects the values of the people.
By voting in favor of the public question to make West Windsor elections partisan, we’re not bringing division to our community; we’re bringing clarity. The truth is, party affiliation is a part of who we are. Our values, our beliefs, and our principles shape how we view the world and how we want to improve it. We’re ensuring that our leaders are proud to stand by their beliefs and represent them openly. We’re making sure that voters know exactly what they’re voting for, and we’re holding our candidates accountable to the ideals they claim to champion.
At its heart, this vote is about integrity and transparency. It’s about ensuring that our elections are a true reflection of our values and that our leaders are clear about where they stand. Let’s be proud of our values and affiliations, and let’s demand the same from those who seek to lead our community. Vote in favor of partisan elections, and let’s make sure West Windsor continues to move forward with openness, honesty, and pride in what we stand for.
Dan Weiss
Weiss is a member of West Windsor Council
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Politics in my life has always been about leaving things better than we found them. Locally, that has meant advocating for smart community planning, road safety, flood prevention, and fostering a vibrant local economy. As a ten year resident of West Windsor, I’ve always sought to make our community a place where people want to live, work, and spend their time. I’ve worked across the aisle to advocate for West Windsor when I served on Dan Benson’s transition team – always maintaining respectful, supportive communication despite any political differences, always thinking of West Windsor first, our mayor can attest.
I’ll be voting YES on the ballot question, and I urge others to do the same. This decision is about ensuring that our community has greater voter turnout and is responsive to the challenges we face, particularly in a time of rapid change. West Windsor is not the same Township that it was 20 or 30 years ago when the current nonpartisan system was adopted. We are twice the size with a wonderfully diverse population.
Why This Matters: The phrase “You may not be into politics, but politics is into you” rings true, especially now. How we manage our town—our streets, schools, and public spaces—will determine whether West Windsor continues to be a place where people want to raise their families. I want our candidates and then our representatives to share their vision for West Windsor’s future. I want them to honestly share their beliefs – that they will of course govern by.
We should know where our leaders stand on issues like climate change, business development, and maintaining our quality of life. And while we might wish that local elections weren’t influenced by political parties, the reality is that politics affects everything, including at the municipal level—from how often our garbage is picked up to how we prepare for future flooding.
The Importance of Participation: Nonpartisan elections sound appealing, but data shows they tend to suppress voter turnout and we see that in our home. When fewer people vote, communities suffer—not just politically, but economically and socially. A vibrant democracy depends on participation, and more voters lead to a healthier, more resilient community. In the 2020 presidential election according to the US Census Bureau, 78.3% of NJ voted. Our last non-partisan election had 26% participation.
Politics aren’t inherently negative. It’s how we negotiate shared living spaces with our neighbors. It’s how we decide where resources go, what gets prioritized, and how we adapt to change. Yet, voter participation in our local elections is shockingly low. Off-year elections breed voter apathy, and many assume incumbents will always win. It’s a core value for me to work towards 100% participation.
Different Worldviews, Different Approaches: There are genuine differences in how people approach issues like preparing for climate change, corporate rights, and resident quality of life. These differences stem from deeply held values and worldviews and shape the decisions our leaders make.
Voting “Yes” on the ballot question is a step toward ensuring that our local government reflects the diverse views of our community and that candidates are accountable to their voters.
As past president of the Democratic Club in West Windsor and Municipal Chairwoman, I’ve spent years involved in local politics. I stepped away from those roles to care for my family, but I remain deeply invested in the future of our community. I have two children in West Windsor schools, and while I have no intention of running for office, I continue to advocate for the issues that shape our town’s future.
Changing our electoral process is about recognizing that politics, in its best form, is how we work together to build the community we want.
Charmi Patel-Peña
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As a retired Navy captain, the current commander general elect of the Naval Order of the United States, and a resident of West Windsor Township for over 28 years, I bring a unique perspective shaped by a lifetime of service, leadership, and scientific inquiry. My career as a microbiologist has taught me that systems, whether biological or political, evolve and adapt to remain healthy and effective. Our electoral process is no different.
West Windsor is no longer the small, homogeneous community it once was. What was once a predominantly white, Christian township of 16,000, in 1993, has transformed into a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community that celebrates a rich tapestry of cultures. I am proud of the growth and the broad spectrum of heritages represented here, and it is time for our electoral system to support our constituency.
Voting “Yes” on the Public Question is an important step toward ensuring that younger families, as well as our broader population, feel confident and engaged in municipal elections. I fully support the move to unveil party affiliations in campaigns and on municipal ballots. This transparency is the cornerstone of democracy, and candidates should be able to proudly display their ideological frameworks. This baseline of information affords voters time and greater opportunity to civically engage.
This is not about divisiveness or semantics, but there is an elephant in the room regarding every facet of politics, and we should be honest about how candidates align themselves politically in West Windsor. West Windsor voters in today’s information age deserve clarity, not confusion on the ballot.
By supporting this Public Question, we can make our elections more representative of the values and diversity of our community. Let’s take this crucial step together, ensuring that our electoral system meets the needs of our community in the 21st century.
Although I mention my credentials and affiliations, for transparency I affirm that the opinions I’ve expressed in this letter are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions with which I am affiliated.
Frederick J. Passman
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As residents of West Windsor for 38 years, we made sure to attend the Township Council meetings when the Public Question regarding a shift in municipal electoral processes from nonpartisan to partisan was introduced. We were there in solidarity because Dale is on the Petitioner’s Committee of West Windsor Voters for Transparency and Representation.
What became immediately clear was a level of palpable antagonism from most of the Council and the Mayor (although he was not present at all the meetings) to the proposition. When public comments were permitted, the outright misinformation from the people who spoke in opposition to this critical initiative was startling. Those on the dais then amplified the opposition and were disrespectful to the supporters of the Public Question. We were dismayed to see and hear the same residents speak in succession at the next Council meeting to consider adopting the Public Question or sending it to the County Clerk to be included on the ballot in November. The Council and the Mayor basically used the meeting to campaign against the Public Question.
It is time to dispel the distortions and set the record straight. The Majority of Municipalities In Mercer County have partisan elections. Nine out of twelve municipalities in Mercer conduct partisan elections, and this is also true for most towns across New Jersey. West Windsor is a glaring outlier, and the proposed change will update the Township’s election process with a more effective and transparent system that has proven to enhance voter engagement throughout New Jersey.
A Partisan Electoral Process Will Increase Clarity and Transparency for Voters. Putting a “D” or “R” or “I” next to a candidate’s name is not just a label — it is vital information. It provides voters with an essential lens through which to assess candidates’ values, political priorities, and positions on important issues. This learning process is fundamental to achieving informed decision-making at the ballot box.
West Windsor Has Changed Drastically Since 1993. West Windsor today is unrecognizable compared to when nonpartisan elections were introduced over 30 years ago. Our population has doubled and diversified. And development along key corridors like Route 1, Quaker Bridge Road, and Alexander Road have expanded exponentially. We can no longer operate under a system geared to a small community. We need elections that reflect the dynamic, evolving reality of today’s West Windsor.
Environmental and Infrastructure Challenges Are Growing. With shrinking open space and increasingly severe weather due to climate change, flooding has become a serious concern in this region. Our officials must be held accountable for their management of these issues. Partisan elections provide the level of scrutiny and responsibility necessary to ensure competent, forward-thinking governance.
Opposition Launches Baseless Accusations. The notion that the Ballot Question is intended to inject national politics into local elections is absurd. The reality is that politics are already embedded in the local nonpartisan system. Presently, West Windsor’s constituency is not given the opportunity or sufficient time to vet municipal candidates or vote for them through primaries. This Public Question comes from engaged West Windsor residents who want to improve local governance, especially on critical issues like development and stormwater management, which will shape our town’s future.
We urge you to vote “Yes” on the Public Question. Let’s move West Windsor forward by embracing a system that promotes transparency, accountability, and progress for our community.
Lawrence & Dale Lessne
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I often tell my children to be proud of who they are and what they believe in, and to never be afraid to express those beliefs, even as they evolve. This is why I’m supporting the transparency initiative, on the Public Question, in West Windsor.
It’s not about endorsing partisanship—it’s about ensuring transparency. When candidates reveal their political affiliations, we gain insight into their core beliefs, helping us discern between campaign promises and actual governance.
As an independent-minded voter, I value this transparency to prevent any party from misleading us with hidden agendas. This is why I’m voting yes, so that our community and our children can have a clearer understanding and exercise their sacred right to vote with trust.
Sam Chakraborty
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