Editors note (9/2/2025): West Windsor Forward is currently still in talks with the two campaigns running for office in town. At this time, at least one of the campaigns has not agreed to the terms of the forum.
West Windsor Forward, a civic group led by residents and students, will host a nonpartisan forum on Thursday, Sept. 25 for candidates running in the 2025 municipal election.
The event, set for 7 p.m. at the Kelsey Theater at Mercer County Community College, will feature candidates for mayor and two Township Council seats. It will be the first mayoral forum in West Windsor since 2013 and the first for Township Council candidates since 2015.
The format will include equal-time questioning by panelists, an audience Q&A session, and an informal meet-and-greet between candidates and voters. Organizers said the forum will be moderated to ensure fairness and civil discourse, with personal attacks prohibited.
The mayor and two council seats are up for election this year. They are all for four-ear terms.
Two slates to face off in West Windsor election
Voters will have two full slates to choose from in the Nov. 4, 2025, nonpartisan municipal election.
Incumbent Mayor Hemant Marathe and his team are seeking re-election against a rival ticket led by Sujit Singh.
Marathe and Council Vice President Linda Geevers are running as a team with Joe Charles, a certified public accountant and 17-year township resident, who is seeking a Township Council seat. They emphasize fiscal prudence, public safety and continuity of leadership.
Challenging them is the “West Windsor Together” slate, led by Singh for mayor with Ajay Tomar and Andrew Winters running for council. Their campaign focuses on transparency, smart growth and inclusive planning.
The mayor’s position and two open council seats are for four-year terms.
Marathe has served as mayor since 2018. He was a Township Council member beginning in 2015 and served 12 years on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education, including nine years as president.
He is active in community groups including the West Windsor Arts Council, West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, Friends of West Windsor Open Space and the West Windsor Lions Club. Marathe and his wife have lived in West Windsor for 31 years, and their four daughters were educated in the local schools.
“We are proud of our accomplishments,” Marathe said. “From responsibly managing state-mandated residential growth and supporting local businesses to maintaining a fiscally responsible budget with minimal municipal tax increases, our teamwork has made a real difference. We’re asking the voters of West Windsor for their support to continue building on this momentum.”
Singh has been a West Windsor resident since 2011. He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in technology, entrepreneurship and nonprofit service.
He holds a degree in electronic engineering and a certificate in entrepreneurship development from MIT Sloan. He has served on nonprofit boards, including Beacon Specialized Living, and is recognized for advocating equity and mental health.
“This is a pivotal moment for our township,” Singh said. “We need leaders who think boldly, listen deeply, and plan wisely — for today and for the future. Leadership starts with listening.
“I’m running to bring fresh energy, data-driven decisions, and a deep sense of responsibility. Together, we’d build a West Windsor that works for everyone — not just today, but for the future.”
The council candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.
Charles is a certified public accountant with 29 years of finance experience. He leads teams daily and has served on several nonprofit boards. He has volunteered as a coach or assistant coach for local youth sports and is vice chair of Keep West Windsor Nonpartisan.
Charles and his wife have lived in West Windsor for 17 years, and their two children attend schools in the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District.
“I am honored by the opportunity to join Hemant and Linda to serve our town,” he said. “I believe my decades of experience in accounting and finance and as a leader of people will be an asset to our council.
“I take a common-sense approach to analyzing issues and independently forming my own views. I am committed to always doing what I believe is best for West Windsor in the long term.”
Geevers has served on the governing body since 2005, including multiple terms as president and vice president.
She previously served nine years on the West Windsor Planning Board and two terms on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education, holding leadership roles there. Geevers currently serves as a fire police officer with the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. 1 and sits on the board of directors of the West Windsor Lions Club.
She and her husband have been township residents for 30 years, and their three children attended West Windsor-Plainsboro schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.
“I value our residents’ input and strive to work collaboratively with all to make West Windsor a vibrant, sustainable and welcoming community,” she said.
“Together with Mayor Marathe and Joe, we will continue to accomplish priorities including police, fire and EMS needs; bicycle and pedestrian safety; roadway infrastructure improvements; and mitigation of flooding impacts,” Geevers said.
Tomar, a resident since 2007, is a technology executive with three decades of experience in financial management, operational strategy and growth planning.
He holds an MBA in technology management from NJIT and a certificate in artificial intelligence for business strategy from MIT. Tomar serves on the board of Shiksha Prayas, a nonprofit supporting underserved students in India.
“Our township needs problem solvers with real-world experience,” Tomar said. “I want to help West Windsor grow responsibly, become safer, so it is a place where families and small businesses thrive.”
Winters is a corporate strategist with degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Duke University.
He moved to West Windsor so his children could attend the district’s DLI Mandarin Program. He said he wants to preserve the township’s character while preparing for the future.
“Good governance means being proactive, not reactive,” Winters said. “I’m running to ensure West Windsor becomes safer and balanced: a place where all families can build a future, where seniors feel supported, and new generations want to come, stay, and grow.”
In a joint statement, Singh, Tomar and Winters said their campaign “amplifies the voices of residents seeking a government that listens, collaborates, builds partnerships, plans sustainably, and puts West Windsor first.”
