Edison council candidates aim to help residents
Primary slated for June 2
BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer
On June 2, six Democratic candidates for Township Council will be vying for three spots in November's general election.

Among the candidates is Rachel Callen, 35, who is running for council for the first time.

"I was truly honored when the mayor [Jun Choi] asked me to run with him," said Callen, a Hebrew school teacher at Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva in Highland Park. "I certainly want to work with a man who is so positive and has done so much for the community and the people of Edison."

Callen said that if elected, one of the first items she would like to help with is the stabilization of taxes.

"The mayor needs help with that. Previously, there was no fiscal responsibility. I didn't like what I was seeing."

Callen said she is a positive person and likes to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty. She also noted that it's time for a change in who holds the power in township politics.

"Many of the people that are around now in Edison politics have been here for a while, and I don't see one thing that they have done for the people of Edison," Callen said. "I've seen a lot of negativity, and that's not what I'm all about. I have fresh ideas. We need a more efficient government, and I want the best for the people."

Robert Diehl is the only current council member running in 2009. Having already served eight years on the council, Diehl, 55, said that one of his biggest strengths in this election is his experience.

"I also have demonstrated fiscal responsibility and I have good judgment as well," said Diehl, an assistant principal at South Plainfield High School. "I definitely think I am very qualified to hold this position."

Diehl also said that taxes are too high and that spending must be reduced. Among the things he wants to tackle if re-elected is the completion of the environmental center at Dismal Swamp.

"That can be a good source of revenue for Edison. I also feel that we need to accommodate our seniors a lot more."

Diehl acknowledged that this year's election is "an important one" and that whoever is elected to the council will have a big job ahead of them.

"The mayor wants to have total control. If you don't agree with him, then he tries to eliminate you. My feeling is that I hope the people don't let him have that control that he is seeking."

Edward Fitzgerald, 52, is a retired law enforcement officer and is currently a security consultant who said that he has always had an interest in politics.

"I have the time and desire to run for Township Council at this time," Fitzgerald said. "It seems that people are really concerned with tax rates in town, and I want to do my best to keep things affordable.

Fitzgerald also said that government contracts need to be looked at, especially in these strenuous economic times.

"The police and fire pay scale are tremendous burdens. We need to find a way to get a hold of that."

Fitzgerald said he is "open and honest with all walks of life" and wants to continue to do that.

"I've handled budgets before and I've also been a PBA delegate, so I know how both sides operate, and I think that's important. I think I'd be a very good council member."

Meiling Kravarik is also in her first council primary. The 46-year-old real estate broker said that she wants to give back to the community that she has lived in for about 30 years.

"Getting a handle on our budget is very important around here," Kravarik said. "It's not an overnight thing. People definitely want to know where their money is going and how it's being spent."

She said that her business acumen is a valuable skill and that she wants to do only what is fair for the people of Edison.

"I really want to take my experience and help out," Kravarik said. "We need people that are energetic and willing to do whatever it takes to get things done. We really do need some change around here, because right now we're on autopilot."

While she wants to see things get turned around, Kravarik also knows that the process has already begun, even before the primary.

"Credit has to go to Jun Choi. He's the one that has already started the process of rebuilding things in town," Kravarik said. His first two years in office, he had to really work with people that just were not open to change. Over the last year, though, a lot of new people have become involved, and I think it's great. There hasn't been somebody in office in a long time around here that has been so active."

Thomas Lankey, 49, is currently a senior vice president for Solaris Health Systems and is running for the first time. He said that he wants to help stabilize taxes and that his financial experience will be of great assistance to the council and the people of Edison.

"I have an accounting degree, and I feel like my business experience can help," Lankey said. "My goal is to listen to the people of our town and help them out in any way that I possibly can.

Another goal for Lankey is to bring people together, something that he says Choi hasn't done during his time in office.

"I really felt that at some point Jun Choi would reach out to people. He talked about it so much, but he has not come through," Lankey said. "I have no political ties, and my eyes are wide open. I'm ready to help this town."

Charles Tomaro is a former council member who is looking to get back in the game. The 55-year-old wants to do many things for his town but may not want some familiar faces around.

"One thing we need is a business administrator who knows how to do a budget," Tomaro stated, referring to current Business Administrator Anthony Cancro. "He's on the payroll for $145,000 and he does nothing at all. And I'm not even sure why we need [Township Communications Director] Jerry Barca. He's making $93,000. There's a lot of folks that are making good money and they're not doing very much. We're overspending.

"It's been bad the last few years," he added. "There's been a lot of fat in the salaries in Edison Township."

Tomaro also said that his experience can play a big role in helping the township.

"The other candidates that Choi is running with [Callen, Fitzgerald and Kravarik] don't even show up to meetings. They have no clue what goes on. I was going to meetings probably 10 or 15 years before I thought about ever running for office.

Overall, Tomaro wants another chance to serve his community and help the people.

"Charlie Tomaro will listen to voters and residents, and my ideas will come from them," Tomaro said. "Charlie Tomaro will make things happen and get things done."

On the Republican side, Raymond Koperwhats is running unopposed for council, as are Lori Bonderowitz, Mary Lou Resner and Norman J. Van Houten.