As Town Council Considers Election Date Change, Local Club Will Petition For Move

Though the Manchester Township Council is just beginning to publically address whether municipal elections should move from May to November as a cost-saving measure, a local Republican club leader said that he is not willing to wait any longer.

Robert Miesemer, president of the Manchester Regular Republican Club, said after the Feb. 14 township council meeting that he and his group plan to move forward with petitioning residents to have the date changed.

“We're going to start as soon as possible he said,” he said, noting that signatures must be collected by Aug. 1.

This declaration came after the council held a workshop to discuss whether they support the proposal.

“It's my understanding that this change in election could save $50,000 for the township,” said Councilman Brandon Weiner. “That's a big savings.”

Proponents, like Miesemer, say it will "save money and increase voter participation." Those opposed fear that partisan politics could return to the township, 20 years after residents voted to excise party rule following the theft of millions of dollars by Joe Portash and other administrators. Miesemer said that his group does not aim to change the form of government, only the election date.

Weiner acknowledged the concerns held by some, that the move could into Manchester's nonpartisan government.

“Does [the move] equate to a partisan election? I've done my research and I don't believe that it does equate to become a partisan election,” he said. “I believe that the election can be handled in November and be kept nonpartisan.”

Manchester operates under the Faulkner Act, a law passed in 1950 outlining different forms of acceptable municipal government in New Jersey. Originally, the act stated that municipalities could hold partisan elections in November or nonpartisan elections in May, but it has since been amended to allow nonpartisan votes in November.

Weiner said that if the ballot clearly states that the local election is nonpartisan and does not affiliate candidates with a certain party, he will support the change.

“The parties that are running in the November general election will be separate. At the end it will say, 'nonpartisan municipal sample ballot,' and there it would be for mayor and council members, keeping it distinct and separate,” he said. “I don't have any problems with this.”

The councilman said that he is waiting for the vacationing county clerk to return and confirm that candidates will be presented in distinct sections.

Weiner also cautioned that the council should not hastily make a decision because the act requires the change stay in place for 10 years.

“That being the case, I don't think we need to jump forward with this right away. I think we should take our time and make sure this is the best thing for all our residents,” he said, noting that the township will not hold an election until May 2012.

Weiner also suggested presenting the idea directly to voters.

“Another option may be to put it on the ballot and see how the residents feel,” he said. “Our obligation is to do what we believe is the best thing for the fine residents of Manchester Township.”

Councilman Ken Vanderziel said that he is “very disturbed by this particular situation.”

“When we initially took office in 1990, we took the nonpartisan route to avoid any political organizations,” he said.

Vanderziel said that residents were presented the option of changing the election date ten years ago but voted two-to-one against it.

“I'm still studying the matter, but I don't want to commit myself to anything until I've reviewed in my mind that the situation that existed then, I think still exists,” he said. “And if it does, I would not be tempted to go any way but to stay with what we have. Sometimes a step like that will lead to another situation that would bring around a political party.”

Councilman Warren Reiter said that he shared Vanderziel's concerns and added that he fears a November ballot “will become too cluttered.”

“The focus would not be on our board. Up to 60 percent of the people who registered to vote and will vote in November, I think that will be for the presidential election,” he said. “I'm sure they would rather think about Barack Obama running for president than Warren Reiter running for council.”

Weiner suggested that more time will allow for the council to track the progress of other municipalities that are changing the date this fall. “I'm really curious to see how it pans out with other municipalities, as well,” he said.

Reither also suggested that the council have another workshop and Clerk Sabrina Skibo then affirmed the matter will be considered another time. Council President Craig Wallis was absent for the workshop and could participate at a later date.

Manchester resident Elio Mancini spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting to voice his opposition to the proposed election date change. “Changing the date to that election means to me political parties will get involved and put up a slate of candidates,” he said. “By and large, what do we do when we go to the polls at the general election? We vote by party lines."