Why I’m Voting “NO” to Partisan Politics in West Windsor

My name is Corey Safran, my family and I have lived in West Windsor since 2010. I strongly oppose the question on the November 5th election ballots to turn West Windsor’s elections from “non-partisan” to a “partisan” process, and I will be voting “NO” to the question.

I love living in West Windsor. I fondly refer to this great town as a happy “pass-through” community. Most of our residents were not born or raised in West Windsor but have chosen to live here and raise a family here because of their profession, our central location or our outstanding schools. Our great community is diverse, and we have created a melting pot of wonderful people from all over the world and across many cultures. We are the envy and the model of what every community should look and feel like.

I strongly oppose the mega warehouse development, and I voted for Tirza Wahrman in the last mayoral election. Thank you Tirza for your hard work but the people of West Windsor voted, and we lost the election by a substantial margin.

I understand how difficult losing the 2023 election must have been for Tirza, and Ben Finkelstein and Stacey Fox in their bid for Town Council, but it’s very disappointing that just when the response should have been to find stronger leaders and stronger voices to champion our cause, the decided next-step plan is to become partisan politicians. Partisan politicians, along with the media, are perhaps the most despised people in America today. Yet, this is what the pro-partisan group aspires to be.

At best, the proposed move to partisan politics is an attempt to attract uninformed voters who blindly vote along party lines. But at worst, the move to partisan politics is a geopolitical strategy to group people and label people as a weapon to hate people, which has been used countless times in history, often with short-term success and always with long-term devastating lasting consequences.

This ballot question from the beginning has been an exercise in deception and desperation. West Windsor residents see this destructive effort for what it is and that is to burn down the civility and spirit of West Windsor just to gain a few more votes.

My family socializes with our West Windsor friends very often, almost daily. And yet we NEVER discuss or argue about partisan politics. It’s not that we don’t follow or care about politics, it’s that it is common courtesy that partisan politics is toxic and divisive and doesn’t belong in the conversation at social gatherings with friends.

Because of partisan politics, this country is more divided than ever. The grouping of elected officials into competing political parties naturally breeds polarization. The party system itself works against collaboration and the consequential polarization is a source of much discord, tension and at times even violence.

The current political landscape forces every American into two buckets, left or right. Party affiliation is then weaponized to characterize and stereotype someone’s entire character and positions on all issues. However, someone like myself, may favor right-wing fiscal policy, espoused by the Republican party, yet be much closer to the Democrats when it comes to gun-control legislation or a woman’s reproductive right to choose.

Municipal governments like West Windsor should have no party affiliations. They should be composed of councilors that work effectively on an issue-by-issue basis.

To the small pro-partisan committee: I know that you hear and see the pain and concern from fellow West Windsor residents at the township meetings and on social media. And your response to concerned residents continues to be hollow and deceptive sound bites about transparency and democracy.

In closing, my message to the petition partners is that our side needs leaders and not politicians. Your scheme to turn West Windsor into your own personal fiefdom will be stopped.

The only good that has come out of your effort is that myself and many others have been energized and activated to be vocal and involved to fiercely oppose what you are doing. My voice and local network are strong and I will be working very hard so every West Windsor resident will vote "NO” to partisan politics this November.