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Incumbent Team Focuses On Results
By Keith Hagarty
The 2008 Township Council election on May 13 is about proven results, not empty promises, according to the two-incumbent, onenewcomer political ticket running under the banner of "Continued Good Government."
The team of incumbent Councilmen Kenneth Vanderziel and 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 nonpartisan government was instituted in 1990.
The slate points to some of the council's accomplishments over the last four years, including, they say: fiscal responsibility; approving the installation of a reverse 9-1-1 service to alert residents of impending crisis; developing anti-pay-to-play measures; establishing the township emergency planning committee; approving shared services with neighboring townships; authorizing gypsy moth spraying under the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program; establishing rules for smoking on municipally-owned property; and working side-by-side with Mayor Michael Fressola in community discussions and presentations.
"He's very, very good. He's developed into one great mayor," said Vanderziel of Fressola.
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 changes he's witnessed throughout the town.
A Harvard University graduate, Vanderziel is a retired financial control officer.The United States Marine Corp veteran also served in the South Pacific campaigns of World War II, and has been a member of numerous committees and commissions throughout the town.
"I understand the people of the town and what they need to have and want to have," he said. "I've been involved all my life in financial control."
With a career in corporate finance, payroll, treasury and accounting, including a position for a short while in the Internal Revenue Service, Vanderziel believes his wealth of experience has served the township well for the past two decades and is excited to have the opportunity to continue.
"The way the economy is, I think the town can use me," he said. Despite being encouraged to run for mayor several times over the years, Vanderziel said his only interest is continuing to serve as a councilman.
"I enjoy what I'm doing for the residents," he said. "That's where I feel my greatest contribution is."
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 officerand budget director for several corporations, including the Federal Maritime Commission.
Trutkoff has also served as a member on the Township Planning Board and Township Open Space Committee.
When describing the campaign, Trutkoff said his team sets itself apart by its ability to face issues head on and do whatever's necessary to satisfy the residents' needs.
"My goals really are to make life pleasurable in Manchester, to address problems that people have and not shirk away, not give it to someone else," said Trutkoff. "If they come to me with a problem, I'm going to help them with that problem. I'm not going to say, 'Hey, Joe, why don't you take care of this for me?' No, that's not the way I work. I have to get involved myself."
When it comes to relating to the public and earning their trust, Trutkoff said he adheres to the golden rule.
"I live here, and I treat people the way I would want to be treated," he said. "Sometimes we feel that our life has a certain goal. It's interesting that I would move from Maryland to here and I would be doing this. I feel that was something that was meant of me to be and do."
After current Councilman Joseph Wennberg announced his decision not to seek re-election this year, Whiting Station resident Reiter stepped to the forefront. An avid council-meeting attendee for the last seven years, Reiter said he was honored to be chosen for the team. 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 condition 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."
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 as the church council for the Christ Lutheran Church on Schoolhouse Road, including two years as treasurer and three years as president.
"I think we owe our senior citizens a lot," said Reiter. "I'd like to continue on like the good government has done in the past."
Above all else, the team is proud of what they describe as a dedication to a clean campaign, focusing on their accomplishments, rather than the shortcomings of their challengers.
"Taking shots at people just come down to dirty politics, and I don't go along with that. I think we're above that," said Vanderziel. "Sometimes when people do that, it's only because they have nothing to offer."
Election Day is Tuesday, May 13.
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