Republican Committee Candidate Aims to Break the "Status Quo"

Matthew Hersh

Life in municipal government has been tough for Princeton Township Republicans the past few years. Democrats have had a stronghold on Committee for the better part of a decade, and results in recent elections have shown that while there is a Republican voter presence in the Township, it has not been enough to defeat the rival party.

But do political parties matter in local government? Many voters base their party affiliation on national issues: issues that rarely are found in the local political agenda.

"The party affiliation gives you credibility, and gives you a broader spectrum of what people are thinking" said Committee Republican candidate Paul Kapp. "It's hard to come in as anything other than a Republican or Democrat and be taken as seriously. I think trying to do it any other way would be even more of a struggle."

But Mr. Kapp, 44, said that while national issues should not be the deciding factor when going to the polls, there needs to be a "multitude of opinions on an issue" and that one-party government is "unhealthy for any environment."

The last Republican to serve on Township Committee was Larry Glasberg, whose term expired in 1994. Before that, incumbent Republicans Ellen Souter and Frederick Porter were defeated in the 1993 elections by Steve Frakt and future Mayor Michele Tuck-Ponder.

The last non-Democrat to sit on Committee was Independent Carl Mayer, who served one term from 1995 to 1997.

However, the Township was not always a Democratic political stronghold. Throughout the 1980s, Committee was controlled by the Republican party.

This year, Mr. Kapp and Republican Irene White are vying for Committee seats currently held by Mayor Phyllis Marchand and Casey Hegener. Mayor Marchand is running for re-election, but Ms. Hegener announced in March that she would not seek re-election after her one term expires in January.

Despite primary election results where the Republican candidates were outvoted by nearly a five-to-one margin, Mr. Kapp remains hopeful that voters will realize the benefits of two-party representation.

A one-party government is not receptive to the political sentiment of all Township voters, he said.

"As well intentioned as [the members of Committee] may be, they're not getting the full picture," he said. "My job [would be] to listen to the residents so Committee gets a broad view of what is really happening out there."

Although it is still relatively early in the race, the candidate said he is working with the Township Republican Committee to see what issues are the most important to residents.

"Getting out and talking to people is extremely critical," he said.

With an office with the McKinley Marketing Group on Harrison Street, and two young children, Nicholas, 7, and Eric, 4, the Snowden Lane resident said he takes advantage of a flexible schedule to meet with voters.

Mr. Kapp has been married to his wife, Lisa, since 1995, and has mostly lived in the Township since. He is also a member of the PTO at the Littlebrook School, where his oldest son is a student.

One Community

With the Borough about to embark on a tax hike of historic proportions, Mr. Kapp said he does not want to see the effects roll over into the Township through the joint municipal agencies. The two governments, however, have to think in terms of one community, he said.

"If you think too independently, you create bigger problems and you've got to come to a common goal," he said, adding that the goal "comes back to what is best for the community at large."

"The Township absolutely needs to work with the Borough to find solutions, not to the Borough's problems that affect the Township, but those that affect the whole community," he said. "It's important that there is a continuing dialogue, but that it remains [financially] equitable. Yes, the Borough is having its problems, but that doesn't mean the Township should shoulder them."

He said the municipalities should start looking at possibly consolidating police departments, but should also pay attention to the feasibility of such a move.

"On paper, you put [the departments] together and save money. Logistically, is that the right thing to do?"

However Mr. Kapp said he intends to get responses from all sides before he takes a final stance on Township issues.

"I'm not going to make any decisions, major or minor, until I know all sides, so we can get our arms around them," he said. "I want to hear what everybody wants."