Candidate Profiles for Lawrence Council

Four candidates are seeking two four-year seats on Lawrence Township Council, Incumbent Democrats Stephen Brame and James S. Kownacki are running against Republican challengers Glenn Collins and Max Ramos.

NAME: Stephen Brame
AGE: 64
OCCUPATION: Lawyer

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background and why you should be elected.

My wife, Joan and I have lived in Lawrence Township for 20 years. We raised our three children, Zachary, Elliot, and Arianna in the Township where they attended our public schools. Joan and I co-own and have operated a business in the Lawrence Shopping Center for ten years. My professional experience has been in both the Public and private sectors: I was the director of Urban Programs for the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development; manager of Community Programs and a vice-president of a fully-owned subsidiary of the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency; director of Economic and Community Development for the Borough of Carteret, New Jersey; and executive director of Habitat for Humanity-Greater Trenton Area. I am Past President of the Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Adjustment; Member of Capital Area Chapter of Building One New Jersey; a member of the New Jersey Chapter of Building One America; A member of the Board of Trustees of Every Child Valued, Inc.; and a member of the Eggerts Crossing Civic League. I earned my BA degree in Political Science from Rutgers University; My Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School-Newark; I am a member of the New Jersey Bar; and I am licensed to practice before the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey.

2. What do you think distinguishes you from other candidates? What do you bring to the table? 

Throughout  my career I have developed experience in economic development, planning, housing, management, and leadership. I have worked with residents, neighborhoods, and business to help build better communities. I think that this kind of experience would be helpful to Lawrence Township. If elected, I will work with my colleagues to foster economic growth while preserving our residents' quality of life; remain committed to public safety by fully funding our police, fire and ambulance services; and reduce spending, while preserving essential services.  

Improvement of the Township's financial condition and stimulation of economic growth. We have had to make tough decisions over the last two years due the effects of the Great Recession’s impact on employment, property values, tax revenues, and business retention and expansion in our Township. But, we are weathering the storm. Certainly the largest part of the Township Budget is salary and wages for our employees. I would continue the progress that we have already achieved.  Lawrence Council has negotiated employee contracts with 7 unions that have contained unprecedented give backs in the various contractual agreements, such as  salary freezes, no medical benefits upon retirement for new employees and elimination of longevity pay for new employees. I will continue to evaluate Township functions that may not be economically efficient and I would consider privatizing functions of government that can be more efficiently delivered to the community without a loss in the quality of such services. For example, Council’s recent privatization of our police dispatches which is projected to realize a savings of 1.1 million dollars to the taxpayers over the next five years.  I would continue to investigate ways and means to expand our shared services with our bordering towns and Mercer County Government. Such programs and more like them should continue to bring tax relief to our citizens. 

We have amended our zoning laws in order to stimulate economic opportunities at the Quakerbridge and the Mercer Malls We have worked with “Mrs G’s” – a local business in Lawrence Township that has served the Lawrence community for several decades, to modernize it facilities and to revitalize several acres of underutilized land along the Route One corridor. In addition, our Planning Board has approved the anticipated arrival of Costco which will bring a substantial ratable and up to 200 new jobs to our Township. This month, two new businesses have celebrated their grand openings along the Route One corridor: Bellacina Kitchen and bath Showroom and Hobby Lobby. Both businesses have made significant renovations to their real properties and will increase our ratable base.

Glenn Collins (no age or profession provided)

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background and why you should be elected. 

Glenn Collins is a 25-year resident of Lawrence. He and his wife Bonnie have two children who attend Lawrence Public Schools. He’s a member of the Lawrence Township Planning Board and  

Recreational Advisory Committee. Glenn has coached township baseball, basketball, and soccer. He’s a member of VFW Post 30022 and the Sergeant-at-Arms at the American Legion Post 414. Glenn and hisfamily are members of St. Ann’s Church. He’s a Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 28 and a member Knights of Columbus Lawrenceville Council.

2. What do you think distinguishes you from other candidates? What do you bring to the table? 

I will listen to the people of Lawrence and make informed decisions, based on their beliefs and what the voters have said. I will make the hard decisions to keep Lawrence affordable and allow taxpayers to sustain their quality of life. I understand that our local government must not continue to balance its budget on the backs of the hard-working taxpayers of Lawrence Township. I will find sensible savings and promoting Lawrence as a business friendly town I will put our community back on the right road to a better future.

3. What are the most pressing issues facing the Lawrence Council today? How would you approach and resolve these issues?

As I have  talked with residents over the last several months of this campaign, my running-mate Max Ramos and I have heard a common theme in their comments: we can’t afford it anymore and change is needed.

This was the same opinion I had when I made the decision to pursue a seat on council. I’m far from a politician; just a husband, father and homeowner who has had enough with poor decisions and lack of Leadership  by our opponents and their council colleagues.

Having governed this township for nearly two decades under one party, our township council has become a body of group thought with only one opinion and a singular mindset. Residents have spoken clearly time and  again of their concerns both at town meetings and in the voting booth, yet these concerns always fall on deaf ears.

We voted down council’s attempt to raise our taxes beyond the state cap – something only two of 566 New Jersey local governments sought to do. Their response was to circumvent the law and our vote with a new garbage tax. Rather than taxing residents out of Lawrence, we can ensure its financial stability with an aggressive pursuit of new ideas, endeavors and the creation of a business-friendly environment that  will increase retable’s. This is something our council has failed to do for far too long.

I’ve seen Mrs.G’s comprehensive Route 1 redevelopment plan languish for well over a year before our planning board.  I’ve seen nonsensical signage ordinances negatively impact strong local businesses like Captain Paul’s. Our local fire departments have been banned from bringing in nearly $100,000 in valuable revenue gained from public hall rentals. And since the late 1990s, I’ve seen minimal improvement along the Alt Route 1 corridor, despite past hype and much talk by council.

This must change now. Council has made a point of coming to residents to demand their tax dollars. It’s time for us to demand better leadership. 

As members of council, Max Ramos and I will work cooperatively with our council colleagues while bringing a new style of leadership and commitment. We will work closely with township staff to fully review policies, procedures and ordinances that are impeding the progress of Lawrence. And we will commit to being open and forthright with our fellow residents when it comes to managing the township budget.

With the support of our friends, neighbors and the entire community, we can change council to a governing body that is fiscally prudent, makes wiser decisions, cooperates more with residents and creates a business climate that benefits all of Lawrence.

I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 5

NAME: James S. Kownacki
AGE: 61
OCCUPATION: Ewing-Lawrence sewerage authority (1988 to present),  journeyman 4 apprenticeship electrical maintenance, former         shop steward local # 172

EDUCATION:  Trenton high school GED, m.c.v.t.s. apprenticeship electrical,       m.c.c.c. leadership skills for executives

NAME: Max Ramos
AGE: 43
OCCUPATION: Business Manager for the Hewlett Packard Co.