Lawrence Democrats Endorse Town Council Candidates

The Lawrence Township Democratic Club has announced its endorsement of incumbent Councilman Michael S. Powers and newcomers Cathleen M. Lewis and David Carl Maffei as the Democratic candidates in the township council election to be held this November.

Three council seats are up for grabs in the election. Last month, and announced they would not seek reelection. Bostock is currently the only Republican on the five-person council.

The three were unanimously endorsed as candidates during the township democratic club’s nomination convention on Wednesday, March 30.

“We have a great team,” Powers, who was first elected to council in the November 2003 election and served as mayor in 2006 and 2010, said in a news release.  “I think that Cathleen and David will bring a fresh perspective to the council and I look forward to running with them.”

Powers, 43, has been a township resident for 35 years and works as a senior attorney with the law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney in Princeton. He attended Lawrence Township public schools, graduating from Lawrence High School in 1986. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory University and a law degree from the Catholic University of America.

As councilman, Powers worked to reduce a proposed 2005 tax hike by 11 percent through the use of the open space fund for township park maintenance and he introduced Lawrence’s first “pay to play” ordinance to limit campaign contributions from professionals doing business with the township. As mayor, he worked to showcase local businesses though his monthly “Ask the Mayor” meetings, promoted community involvement by holding council meetings in neighborhoods around town, and launched the township’s Diversity Day celebration (which is now in its sixth year).

For his leadership and accomplishments Powers was named 2010 “Mayor of the Year” by the New Jersey Regional Coalition.

Cathleen Lewis, 32, has lived in Lawrence Township for seven years and works as the director of public affairs and government relations for the AAA New Jersey Automobile Club. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers University. Prior to joining AAA, she worked for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from 2007 to 2010 as senior public information officer and legislative liaison. A seasoned political campaigner who currently serves as president of the Lawrence Township Democratic Club, she has managed and worked on many campaigns for the Lawrence Democrats.

Lewis said she and her fellow candidates plan to run a spirited door-to-door campaign to engage township voters.

“I’m excited to begin talking to residents about how we can move Lawrence Township forward,” she said. “In today’s fiscal environment, it’s important that we take a good look at how we can do more with less and how we can find new ways to share services and reduce costs while maintaining the services and community that make Lawrence great.”

A retired chiropractor who practiced in the township from 1981 to 2005, 63-year-old David Maffei has lived in Lawrence Township for 51 years. He holds degrees from Mercer County Community College and Fairleigh Dickinson University, and earned his chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College in 1980. He currently serves as the vice chair of the township Planning Board and as a member of the township Growth and Redevelopment Committee.

Maffei said that his roots in the community have made him well aware of the challenges the township faces.

“I realize that sustainability is an important ingredient in the daily lives of our community and needs to be addressed as new technology develops,” he said. “I will work with township residents to encourage a renew sense of participation and help our business leaders expand and achieve further success.”