Incumbent Township Councilwoman Bonne Giglio earned the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for a one-year unexpired term, but not without a challenge from an independent candidate in the Nov. 3 general election.
Giglio ran unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination in the June 2 Democratic Party primary. She earned 3,111 votes.
She was appointed to serve out the unexpired term of former Township Councilwoman Olympia I’Liou Perry, who resigned in January.
Giglio will face independent candidate Brad Moore, who filed a nominating petition at the Mercer County Clerk’s Office on June 2. It was signed by more than 300 people that included registered Democrats, Republicans, Independents and unaffiliated voters in Lawrence Township, according to a press release issued by his campaign.
Moore’s decision to run for Township Council was sparked by the Council’s handling of proposed inclusionary affordable housing developments at the historic William Gulick House on Route 206/Lawrenceville Road and a portion of the Educational Testing Service campus at 660 Rosedale Road.
The Planning Board deemed the William Gulick House to be a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment in April. The Planning Board’s findings will be passed on to the Township Council, which may adopt a redevelopment plan for 110 units. Of those 110 units, 22 would be set aside for affordable housing.
The Township Council also is considering an ordinance to rezone 75 acres of the ETS campus to permit as many as 800 units in an inclusionary development on the north side of the 355-acre campus. It would be a mix of 80% market rate units and 20% affordable housing units.
“The current Township Council is attempting an end-run around legally-prescribed processes. They are pushing forward without regard for the immediate and long-term consequences to our community or its citizens,” Moore said.
“Lawrence Township deserves leadership that respects the spirit of the law, protects its residents and preserves our shared heritage,” he said.
A central pillar of Moore’s campaign is responsible growth and sensible land use. He said he supports affordable housing, but it must be built in areas that make sense specifically, where the existing municipal infrastructure can support it. He is opposed to destroying the town’s green spaces for development.
Moore’s campaign focuses on restoring complete transparency to local government and ensuring that municipal decisions are made in the open with active community input. He has promised to represent all Lawrence Township residents, ensuring that their neighborhood needs, voices and concerns are represented.
Lawrence Township succeeds when its leadership acts with integrity, transparency and a genuine respect for the town’s environment and citizens, Moore said.
“I am running to restore balance and to uphold the spirit of the law, especially with regard to major changes in zoning and planning issues. I want to ensure that every voice in Lawrence Township is heard,” he said.
