East Windsor Township Council Candidate Profile: John Guarniere

Name: John Guarniere
Party: Republican
Running for: Four year term  

Why are you running for Township Council?
I am running for a seat on the East Windsor Township Council.  not because I want to be involved in politics, but rather I feel compelled to do so for the sake of my children and grandchildren.  My wife,Lamia, and I have been happily married for 44 years and have lived in East Windsor for more than 33 of those years.  Our two children, John and Melissa, attended East Windsor elementary schools and graduated from Hightstown High School.  Melissa is married to Jerry Ford of Hightstown.  Two of their three children, Jerry, 9, and Justin, 7 attend East Windsor schools and we are sure that Timmy, 4, will also attend East Windsor schools.  Our roots, as well as the roots of our children and grandchildren are right here in East Windsor and we would like to stay if we can afford to.

What are three issues most important to you and why?
1. Our Township government needs to be smaller and less costly.

East Windsor Residents’ tax burden has increased every year for the last decade.  The 2011 budget is 20MM dollars and climbing.  Pension costs alone are 1.5 million annually and are unsustainable at this level.  Have you noticed all the retail and industrial vacancies, residential foreclosures and the ‘For Sale’ signs around town?  Have you heard anything about reductions to the size of our local government?

2. Our Township Council needs more discussion and divergent views.
Currently, the mayor makes the decisions and the Township and Council backs her up 99.5% of the time.  The monthly council meetings are quick, with little discussion and almost all votes are unanimous.  Now is the time to change that!  We need Council members who represent the broader community to ask questions such as, "How much will that cost?", or "Are there less expensive ways to achieve those goals?" 

3. Our Township Council must be more open and transparent.
I recently attended a Township Council Meeting.  What a disappointment!

One major expenditure before the Council was a Bond Ordinance (No. 2011-17) relating to capital improvements for the Township at a cost of $1,242,695.  No discussion, no questions, no alternatives discussed.  Our community has no clue as to what we’ll be spending and why. Now, our neighboring Township, West Windsor, televises its meetings and the outcomes are rarely unanimous.  Their taxpayers get to see and hear discussions, the positions taken and the decisions made by each council person.   Why not here, in East Windsor?

Why should residents vote for you?
Unfortunately since I moved here in 1972, I’ve seen East Windsortaxes triple, school rankings plummet from the top 25% to the lower 50^th percentile.  I have seen major businesses deserting us, like RCE Aerospace/Lockheed-Martin, PA International, J&J Dental, NL Industries, Minute Maid, Lavipharm and others.  We need a few Republicans to balance an all Democratic Council who think less about open spaces more and more than affordable living. My employment background includes being a corporate business executive, business owner, and entrepreneur.

I am a college graduate and a Vietnam Era Veteran.  I’m now semi-retired and can put in the time and effort needed to make East Windsor more affordable and a better place to live.