Republicans Debate: Age Versus Experience

will have a few choices this year when it comes to who will fill an open seat on the township committee, beginning with a choice for a Republican candidate in

The differences between Republican candidates Annabel Pierce and incumbent Don Kostka were acknowledged Thursday night during a Republican Club-hosted debate at the , including, in particular, their age and experience. The winner of the primary will go on to face Democrat Mike O'Brien.

Several members of the audience commented on Pierce's "young" age (Pierce is 32) and one congratulated Pierce on getting involved in township politics and said they would like to see more young people involved. But that same audience member also questioned Pierce's voting record and why she only recently registered with the Republican party.

Pierce responded by saying that criticizing young members of the party does not encourage their involvement. Pierce said that despite registering with the party only recently, she has held Republican values, including fiscal responsibility and conservatism, her whole life.

"It has nothing to do with my voting record or Republican Club membership," she said. "I have always lived this way and I was raised this way."

In his comments, Kostka, 59, joked that while he considered himself to be of young mind, people do not think of him as such anymore.

"I guess I've reached the age where no one will call me young," he said.

But Kostka also said his name was fresh to local politics when he first ran for the township committee seat he occupies and since then, he said he has gained the experience needed to continue to help lead the township.

"You don't see me at , you don't see me at the you don't see me with the regulars. I was alone, out of left field, when I ran three years ago," he said.

Pierce said that while she may not be entirely familiar with all current issues affecting the township, if elected, she would work to delve deeper into the issues affecting the residents.

The candidates tackled a number of topics during the debate including whether the township should acquire more open space, what areas each candidate felt could be cut to reduce the township's debt, what to do with and whether the township should reduce the number of garbage pickup days.

On open space, Pierce said she would look into making good choices for open space acquisition and that based on feedback she had received from speaking with residents in regards to , "we are spending money on something that, right now, they don't think is essential."

Kostka spoke about what he believed to be the right kind of open space and said he is happy with parcels of preserved open space such as that symbolize "old Montville."

"The type of open space that I like is the Pyramid Mountain type of open space and farmland," he said. "And if you preserve it, to me, that represents Montville's historic beauty."

In regards to reducing debt, Kostka first mentioned the sewer surplus and said he feels strongly that money should be returned to the ratepayers.

"You, the ratepayers overpaid. You, the ratepayers, ought to get it back," he said.

Kostka also said the township is in the process of evaluating departments, though he declined to note which departments, but said he would look to further efficiencies in the township's personnel costs because "at the end of the day, the biggest costs to us are our people costs and the benefits tied to it."

Pierce answered that she would look to have the township committee develop a multi-year capital operational budget that would help the township better plan for costs of the future.

"Anything that needs to be cut would be based on any information that I would obtain," she said.

In regards to the sewer surplus, she said she would examine a way to distribute the surplus to ratepayers equitably, "using some money for paying off some of our sewer debt."

Neither candidate said they would not reduce the number of garbage pickup days if it meant a savings for the township. Pierce said that while she feels residents are generally satisfied with the number of garbage and recycling pickup days, she would take a closer look at also making a multi-year plan for the pickup schedule.

"At the end of the day, everything's on the table," Kostka said.

At the conclusion of the debate, Kostka, who said he believes in term limits and that if elected, this would likely be his last term, extended his hand to shake Pierce's.

"No matter who wins, Montville wins and we move forward," he said.

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