Tonight: 8:00 PM Candidates Night

[TONIGHT ONLY!!!]

The Woman’s Club of Cranbury Public Affairs and Social Services Department is hosting a Candidate’s Night tonight Tuesday, October 11th at 8:00 pm in the Cranbury School cafeteria. Candidates night is a good chance for Cranbury residents to get a better understanding of where this years candidates for the Cranbury Township Committee stand on the important issues. Everyone is invited to attend.

[Guest]

[Guest]

How was candidate's night?

[Guest]

They both seemed like good people. There did not appear to be much difference in their positions. The most interesting part was at the end when each other was asked how they were different. Karen Callahan, the Republican, believed in a more limited government compared to Susan Goetz, the Democrat. Karen also emphasized her business experience, management at a technology company, while Susan thought her background as an environmental consultant would be important with issues like the dam coming up. It looked like a reporter was there so we should get a more thorough update in the Cranbury Press.

[Guest]

My view. Karen stated a number of times smaller government. She also did not seem to know the budget in the town. For example she said the town had a 6.9 million surplus. However, 2.9 is for capital projects not yet completed. This was discussed at a TC meeting in detail. She also said that she did not know how much surplus we needed to keep. Susan stated that we needed 20% of the operating budget which is what the TC has stated at every budget presentation I ever attended.

Karen said she would not have removed the tree on Main St. However, said if we plant trees then we have to maintain and remove them. Susan said she would have removed the tree and agreed with Karen on planting tree and responsibility.

On trash Karen said regardless of savings she opposed trash because she opposed big government. Susan said she would need to see the numbers, but if there were savings to residents then support it.

Karen said she wanted to extend sewers to brickyard and across 130 to attract ratebales. Susan said she met with Haddonfields Mayor and wants to meet with others who revitalized downtown areas to get ideas on what can be done.

The two candidates agreed on most things and no hot issue. I did think Karen was less prepped as she spoke in more general terms where Susan had more facts and numbers. To me that is a prep issue not a statement on the individual. It's not easy to do and both did very well.

[Guest]

I couldn't make candidates night, so I appreciate the reports from those who were there. This site is often criticized, sometimes deservedly so, for allowing users to post garbage anonymously. This, however, is the flip side of that coin. Thanks Cranbury Info, for helping us keep informed.

[Guest]

What did the candidates say about a stand alone library?

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They both said no tax dollars and that they encourage private fund raising.

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I want to echo a previous sentiment. Thanks for a cordial response to my question - I wish I could have made it.

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"On trash Karen said regardless of savings she opposed trash because she opposed big government"

Oh boy! this tea party ideology always trumps the needs of the middle class.

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[Guest]

While I heard tea party comments, I think that had to do with who is giving her information. Dan and Jay have been basically removed from the core Republican group in town for not being tea party hard core republicans, but moderates. While Mayor Cody and the group are more hard core and he has stated a lot of misinformation though I don't think intentionally for example his comments that the town can get the library surplus or that the TC has a large capital surplus, but when they went through by line it was found not to be true. So Karen is probably repeating things of those who helped her prepare as she doesn't have the benefit of sitting on the TC now and seeing for herself. Susan was likely coached by Dave and Glenn so I think being prepared by two sitting members was a bigger help.

If you take those comments out like big government. She raised a lot of good points in the debate. I don't know if Susan is a progressive or if Karen is a tea party member. I think both are trying hard and should be voted on based on whether their positions align with your own views. I don't see much difference between them. Just like I don't see much difference between Dave, Glenn, Jay and Dan.

[Guest]

I have to echo the statement that there was no real difference between the two. The smaller government stuff on the trash was interesting for sure.
At the end of the day, I did decide based on the meeting that I would vote for Karen, because she demonstrated a very good ability to dig deep on an issue. There was a question about road noise on Route 130, and she had obviously done her homework by talking to the right people and understanding the process to get something done about it. Not a huge issue, but I think that the ability to do the research and come up with the action plan will serve her well on the TC.

[Guest]

I thought both candidates did a great job - both were prepared and knowledgable on town issues. The only thing I was not sure of was Karen's motivation to be on the council - in her opening statement, she said she is running because she "was asked to" - that was it. With Susan, it seemed very clear that she has gotten so much from this town for the last 30 years and she now has the time and experience to give back. I wanted to hear more from Karen on her motivation to get involved as she has only been in Cranbury for three years. Again, not a knock, she may have a good reason but I didn't catch it on candidates night. Both seemed capable but I am voting for Susan.

[Guest]

Funny you say that because it was my feeling too. Susan mentioned her time here what the town gave to her and how she wants to use her experience on the lake and dam. She actually took her job and applied it to the township.

Karen lost me in the intro talking how she met her husband and some IT shipping role she had. I think it was nerves which is very understandable. I'd never want to do this and I applaud her.

She then got me back talking of her kids in school, leading the Mother's club and her work with the PTO. However, saying she's running because she was asked to was honest, but should have stated something she wanted to achieve. I found it a bit misleading when she said she's been involved in Cranbury for 8 years it would be like me saying I've been involved for 20 yrs with Princeton since that's how long I have done things there for. Also, I am concerned that she wants to extend sewer when she has septic so doesn't have to pay the costs that come with it.

I probably won't know who I vote for until I pull the lever.

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