Vote NO to Keep West Windsor Non-Partisan!

What makes West Windsor special? New Jersey has 564 municipalities. Many of them have good land, are near transportation, have access to amenities, maintain good schools, and more. Every town has potential, so why does West Windsor consistently rank as one of the best places to live, and attract a diverse group of good people anxious to live here?

Over 30 years ago, in 1993, our forebears had the wisdom and prescience to change our government to non-partisan Mayor Council under the Faulkner Act. They did not do this lightly. Democrats, Republicans and independents worked together on a Commission for several years, reviewing other municipalities and talking to residents before putting out a final report. The one thing they unanimously agreed on was that West Windsor should get out from under political parties and set its own destiny by becoming nonpartisan.

Since then, West Windsor has flourished under several administrations of Mayors and Councils. Beholden to the people, elected officials know who truly chooses them for their positions. They have been able to remain relatively free of outside influences and demands in a way that governments depending on party approval and favor for election cannot. Our population and government became more diverse as people realized that everyone has an equal chance to run in elections, and potential candidates do not have to prove loyalty and service to the party, but only to the people.

Over the years we have seen many improvements: Open space over 50% of our land, parks and recreation facilities, including a pool complex, environmental stewardship resulting in Sustainable Jersey repeated Silver Certification, Tree City, bustling retail and businesses, and more. Municipal taxes have been controlled, remaining flat for years at a time. Compare this with Mercer County, where lack of competitive elections over years has resulted in huge county tax increases.

The partisan question on the ballot is not a simple candidate election, but a vote on a seismic shift in how our government is elected and run. We currently allow all qualified citizens to run for mayor and council on an equal basis, and they are able to run individually, as teams, and as teams of independents and mixed parties. Independents have as much voter power as anybody else. As a result, our government is not divided by party, candidates are not selected or beholden to outsiders and party hierarchies, and decisions are made by what each individual thinks is best for West Windsor. It is a type of equality that most of the country can only dream of, and it has put us in the forefront of inclusivity in the county, the state and the country. I am proud of West Windsor’s record as a nonpartisan township in the last 30 plus years and thrilled to be a small part of it.

How would adoption of this question change things? Research has shown that out of 57 elected local positions in Mercer County partisan towns, not one is held by an independent. I’ve heard arguments about who can vote in the primary, but the sad truth is that there are rarely any primary opponents against the party leaders’ handpicked endorsed candidates. And when it comes to the general election, voters rarely even get a choice with only one candidate running for each position. Out of 13 partisan local positions up for election in 2024, only one even has an opponent on the ballot! So regular voters, whether Democrat, Republican or independent, rarely get any kind of choice in local partisan elections in all of Mercer County.

Let’s not go backwards.

Please VOTE NO on the public question and maintain the independence of West Windsor and the rights of all our voters, not just a chosen few.

Andrea Mandel, West Windsor resident since 1988

Andrea Mandel was elected to the West Windsor Township Council in 2019 and currently serves as Vice President. She is a long time volunteer in West Windsor and has also served as Council President, Planning Board Member and on the Environmental Commission. These opinions are hers as a West Windsor resident and not in any official capacity.