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Officers elected,
strategies discussed at reorganization meeting
In what they lauded as a rebirth of the local
underdog political party, about 30 members of the
Republican Association of Princeton met Wednesday
for a reorganization meeting that saw officers
elected and strategies discussed.
The Republicans, who did not offer candidates for
Princeton Borough mayor, Princeton Borough Council
or Princeton Township Committee in November, said
they are prepared to mobilize and are poised to
generate interest in their party and ideals.
Based on discussions Wednesday, the local
Republicans are pegging tax increases at the
municipal, county and state levels as a principal
platform.
"The truth is, we're right on the issues," said
Bill Spadea, a 2004 candidate for the U.S. House of
Representatives in the 12th District and a prominent
local Republican. "What we need is the organization
that will deliver those issues."
Officers selected to lead the Republican
Association are Mark Herr as president, Dick
Woodbridge as vice president, Tom Pyle as secretary
and Charles St. John as treasurer.
In addition, four directors were selected:
Bernice Frank, Mark Alexandridis, Mike Carnevale and
Gordon Bryant. Mr. Bryant and Mr. Pyle last year ran
unsuccessfully for Township Committee.
Mr. Spadea said he believes the tide in Princeton
could soon change in favor of the Republicans. But,
he acknowledged, "It's an uphill battle."
He encouraged party enthusiasts to communicate
their ideals with others whenever possible. "Let's
not be embarrassed to be a Republican," Mr. Spadea
said. "I encourage all of you to stay active."
Mr. Pyle estimated that there are about 40 to 45
people who are "now committed to us." In addition,
he said, there is a list of about 250 people whom
the group has contacted and he expects more interest
in the coming weeks.
While Mr. Herr was not in attendance Wednesday,
Mr. Pyle read a letter from him in his absence.
"The Princetons, for far too long, have been held
in the thrall of one party — the wrong party," Mr.
Herr said in his letter. Through recruitment and
communication, the Republicans should soon have the
ability to "field strong slates of candidates in the
township and the borough," Mr. Herr added.
Mr. Herr concluded his letter thanking those who
have chosen to join in the "liberation of the
Princetons."
Former Republican Township Committeeman Tom Poole
said he was "stirred and energized." But Mr. Poole
said, "it sends a bad signal" when there are no
Republicans on the ballot for local elections.
"Perhaps we should consider a write-in," Mr.
Poole said. Others nodded but no formal plans for a
write-in campaign were developed that evening.
A discussion period was steered to the topic of
rising taxes.
"One of the hidden prices of very high taxes is
you really start to lose a segment of your
population," said Mr. Woodbridge, a former member of
both the Township Committee and Borough Council.
Mr. Pyle agreed. "Diversity in Princeton is one
of the hallmarks," he said. "It makes us
distinctive." But, he added, because of soaring
taxes, Princeton "is only affordable for the
intellectually elite and the investment bankers."
Mr. Pyle, citing a $60,000 grant the township and
borough recently received to promote sustainability,
said one way to create a sustainable community is to
make taxes affordable.
"Affordability assures sustainability," Mr. Pyle
said. "That is the mantra that we're going to chant
— and we're going to say it loud."
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