Cranbury Press coverage of TC candidates

[Jason Stewart]

I sent the following to Hank Kalet, managing editor of the Cranbury Press. I believe it is extremely important that we have a well informed local electorate this November. I'm sure many of you could substantially add to or edit my suggestions which is great. My only goal is the begin the dialogue and hopefully get the paper to commit to in-depth coverage and allow the candidates to commit to concrete positions. Any "good" candidate will be more than eager to do so and if they aren't do we really want them in office? At this local level, it shouldn't be about party loyalty and all about where they stand on the issues and how the Township should be run.
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I believe the local Township Committee election this year will be a particularly pivotal one with high turn-out due both to the national presidential election and the level of local awareness of issues affecting the Township.

I therefore would like to urge the Cranbury Press substantially increase its coverage both in breadth and depth on the local candidates this year versus previous years when it basically boiled down to one article with excerpts from interviews with the various candidates. Since there are only two candidates for one position there certainly is ample time and space to do detailed articles and analysis that gives equal representation to both.

Also, I think the coverage should start earlier than just before the election. Better to provide detailed coverage of both candidates when it is the most impactful in helping people make up their own minds.

As a local voter making an important decision that has at least three years of impact on the Township, here is some of what I would like to see:

* I think the Cranbury Press should work up a series of questions that cover the various issues important to the Township and give each candidate the opportunity to respond, in writing, with the commitment that their responses will be published in full as long as they don’t exceed a certain work count. The benefits of this is it allows voters to see the candidates’ apples-for-apples positions rather than be forced to settle selective quotes of what the candidate chose to focus on (or avoid). It also gives the candidates the assurance they can’t be taken out of context so hopefully they will feel comfortable taking detailed positions. And if they don’t, that is something the voters can keep in mind in making their decision. Again, since we have months the Press could even publish the responses gradually over multiple weeks to assure there is room to adequately cover them (though I think it should always publish both candidates answers on the same issue at the same time).

* Examples of issues the candidates should be asked to response on:

-- What is your plan for addressing the current COAH requirements and other State Legislature bills that would affect Cranbury’s affordable housing obligations? It’s important that this not be “what do you think about this issue” as we don’t need quotes about how it’s “really important.” Candidates should have to offer concrete suggestions and define their priorities

-- What do you think the three most important issues the TC should be focused on right now and why?

-- How important is it to keep property taxes under control? What specific actions or commitments will you take to do so?

-- How “open” should the TC be in voting and deliberations? Do you approve of “closed sessions” and why or under what circumstances?

-- How important should political party affiliation be in Township management? Do you approve of appointments to Township Boards, like Planning, being based on party affilication for example? Will you be willing to vote against the majority of those in your party on TC issues?

-- Historically the TC had a practice of rotating the Mayor position annually. That has recently changed. Do you approve of this change or prefer the annual rotation and why?

-- Had you been on the counsel what position would you have taken on

-- Purchase of the PNC Bank Site?

-- Building of the Babe Ruth Baseball Field?

-- Approval or not of a local Cell Phone tower installation?

-- Re-zoning of the land next to the Cranbury Estates?

-- Increase of Township Committee member pay?

-- Etc.

-- Etc. These are just a few examples. The point is, I would like to see each candidates response on each rather than be forced to accept their cherry picking of the few issues they want to address.

* In addition to this detailed position statement, a profile on each candidate would be great. Not just one combined article with a few quotes. But like the NY Times does for Mayoral elections, dedicate one week each to a long cover story that features the background of the candidate. What they do or did for a living, how they came to be in Cranbury, why they decided to run for office, etc. Perhaps quotes from people who know them and what they think of them, etc. Something that provides a lot of perspective on the candidate. It doesn’t do me much good to read a couple quotes from each saying “keeping taxes down is important and we need to focus on responding to COAH.” That is useless. We need more details.

I do not mean to suggest this is an exact or complete roadmap for what should be done. I am simply providing examples to illustrate my point about needing and having an opportunity for more detail to allow voters to make educated decisions. With a hometown paper, a small electorate and a manageable two candidates, if we can’t accomplish this here and now, when can we?

Thank you for your consideration.

[Guest]

[Cranbury Conservative]

I agree with you 100% the local election should not be about party loyalty. We just need to focus on who is the right person for the Job here in Cranbury.

Your letter and the ideas contained in it are excellent

I really hope they take your ideas under serious consideration.

[Guest]

I absolutely agree. We need someone on the TC that will help keep Cranbury a historical, neighborly, and cute walking town no matter what political party affiliation.

Let's hope the current TC will get the message and think outside the box and not according to party line.

[Guest]

I guess if Hank Kalet and the Cranbury Press are so over-the-top in their one-sided political agenda that they publish editorials that are harmful to everyone in Cranbury they aren't going to be too concerned with providing more than token coverage of the local elections. They would rather have people on their staff who don't even live in Cranbury or participate in our local events dictate on us from afar.

I am curious whether the original poster ever got a response from Hank or the Cranbury Press?

[Jason Stewart]

[Jason Stewart]

Update. I got a reasonable reply from Mr. Kalet yesterday. The gist was that he would consider expanded coverage, although his resources are limited and that the candidates themselves often decline to provide detailed answers because they prefer the safety of generic quotes...

[James]

Thanks. I could see that being the case. I imagine there's not a large staff.

Sadly, it is also easy to see that some people who ran and on the TC not wanting to be interviewed too much or provide details. It's easier to run if you don't have to take a stance. That alone should be a major concern that a TC campaigner wants to stay safe since it indicates their likely character and attitude once elected. I have not seen Mr. Cody shying away from offering opinion here and at TC meetings.

That should speak volumes about his positive character and effort.