|
Incumbent Ticket Focused On "Continued Good Government"
By Keith Hagarty
This year, two slates of candidates are vying for three seats on the Manchester Township Council. Election Day is May 13.
Running for three Township Council seats on the platform of financial expertise, dedication and a history of experienced public service, the slate of candidates under the "Continued Good Government" political slate, which includes two incumbents and one newcomer, believe their proven track record is right for Manchester.
The team of incumbent Councilmen Kenneth Vanderziel, Fredrick Trutkoff and newcomer Warren Reiter say they are ready to take on new terms to "focus on the stability brought to township government" since non-partisan government was instituted in 1990.
All three candidates point to their strong finance credentials as key in separating themselves from their opponents.
A Leisure Village West resident, Vanderziel, 85, has lived in Manchester for nearly 30 years. He currently serves as Township Council President, a position he held when the change of government was first enacted 18 years ago.
Looking back on his near 20-year tenure, Vanderziel is proud of the positive changes he's witnessed throughout the town.
"I understand the people of the town and their concerns and what they want to have and need to have," he said. "My focus has always been financial. I'm not one to go out and pick a shovel up unless I have to, but all my life, I've been involved in financial control, payroll and corporation finance and treasury and accounting."
A Harvard University graduate, Vanderziel is a retired financial control officer. The United State Marine Corp veteran also served in the South Pacific campaigns of World War II.
"I've helped develop the financial setup that's been going here in town, and developing rapidly," said Vanderziel. "Finance has always been comfortable to me, and I think I can continue to be comfortable as we move forward in this present situation and this economy. The way the economy is, I think the town can use me."
Vanderziel and Trutkoff both serve on the legislative committee of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
Trutkoff, 76, a Renaissance resident for the last 10 years, is a City College of New York graduate and retired financial manager. He served as chief financial officer and budget director for several corporations, including the Federal Maritime Commission.
"My goals are to make life pleasurable in Manchester, address problems that people have and not shirk away from it, not give it off to somebody else," he said. "If somebody comes to me with a problem, I'm going to help them with that problem. I have to get involved directly myself, and that's the way I've always been."
Trutkoff has also served as a member on the Township Planning Board and Township Open Space Committee.
"I enjoy working with people, and really enjoy this job. I love it," he said. "In all my experiences I've had in this town and in the county, working as a trustee is all funneled back into this area for a purpose."
After current Councilman Joseph Wennberg announced his decision not to seek re-election this year, Whiting Station resident Reiter stepped to the forefront. After attending council meetins for the last seven years, Reiter said it was time for him to be proactive and throw his hat into the political ring.
"I probably attended a minimum of 50 percent of all the (council) meetings during that period of time," he said. "I was very interested in serving this town. Frankly, I've seen how the local government has operated. I thought it's been very well done. I can honestly say, I haven't disagreed with most of the things that were done. I just wanted to become part of the team, and represent Whiting's residents."
A retired comptroller and business manager, Reiter, 79, is a 13-year township resident, a Saint John's University alumnus and Korean War era veteran. He has served as the Whiting Station budget and finance chairman and liaison for municipal government affairs. He also worked for a number of years as business manager for a Long Island school district, as well the church council for the Christ Lutheran Church on Schoolhouse Road, including two years as treasurer and three years as president.
"Almost 50 percent of the town's population is right here in the Whiting area, with 90 percent senior citizens," said Reiter. "I think we owe our senior citizens a lot, and I'd like to continue what our good government has done for the seniors, and even do more."
As the lone candidate from Whiting, on either side, Reiter said he'd like to see several issues addressed for that section of town, such as encouraging clean tax ratables, improving traffic safety conditions and maintaining a high quality of life for its residents.
"That was probably my main motivating reasons for wanting to serve this town," he said. "It's where my roots are, and I know what the problems are there."
| 
)