The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Christopher Kelly
Township Resident Since: Sept 1971
Employment: Director of Technical Service and Sales for Advanced Food Systems in Somerset since 1996
If incumbent, what term will this be (second, third, etc.): I have been mayor since Jan. 2015. This will be my first full term. I was appointed by council to fill the final year of Brian Levine’s unexpired term when he was elected Freeholder.
What is the single biggest issue facing your constituents, and what is your plan to address it:
Taxes have increased for the past 12years like clockwork under the current council’s control. Controlling spending and increasing the occupancy rate of our vacant buildings a high priority. Hiring a qualified and motivated economic development officer as well as an ombudsman to help navigate our maze of departments will go a long way. Streamlining our permitting and inspection procedures for businesses to eliminate the stigma Franklin has for not being business friendly. This will also help fill our empty businesses. Bringing back a high level of morality and civility to the council is also of upmost importance as well. Recently there has been a sharp decline in the responsiveness, accountability and ethics of council members, Franklin deserves better. I for one, commit to holding myself to a high moral standard and demand it of the rest of council as an example, I recently demanded the resignation of Councilman Prasad due to the lies that he has told on council and his and terrible lack of morals and bad judgment.
Why should people vote for you:
I have lived in Franklin for 44 years(my entire life) and I am committed to doing what is right for Franklin. I have no political allegiance, nor do I owe money or favors to donors, developers or anyone else for that matter. Unlike the rest of council, I listen to what residents want and vote accordingly. As a marathon runner, and Ironman triathlete I know what it takes to commit to difficult, long range tasks and do what it takes to accomplish them. This year while facing, then fighting and beating Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma my outlook on life has gained clarity and a more focused perspective. I was always taught to stand up and do what is right regardless of the personal consequence I realized that life is too precious to not do anything that I said that I would do. Unlike others on council, I never do anything that will make it difficult for me to hold my head high and be able to look at myself in the mirror in the morning.
Alex Kharazi , Ph.D.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
94 Claremont Road Franklin Park NJ 08823
Kingston Presbyterian Church
The Kingston Presbyterian Church was organized in 1723 and located in a log building near the Millstone River. The church was formed shortly after Jediah Higgins purchased 1,000 acres from the Indians in the early 1700s and the town of Kingston was established. The location of this first log structure can be determined easily since all of the old tombstones surround the site where the church once stood.…
Read MoreOur History
The Kingston Presbyterian Church was organized in 1723 and located in a log building near the Millstone River. The church was formed shortly after Jediah Higgins purchased 1,000 acres from the Indians in the early 1700s and the town of Kingston was established. The location of this first log structure can be determined easily since all of the old tombstones surround the site where the church once stood. General George Washington traveled past this little church with his troops, avoiding the British after the Battle of Princeton by marching off to the left, down the road leading to Rocky Hill, while Cornwallis and his troops proceeded on the main road to New Brunswick.
The Rev. Eleazar Wales was the first recorded minister of the church. He played a prominent role in the Presbyterian movement in and around Philadelphia, which was the center of Presbyterianism in those days. On May 26, 1738, the Synod of Philadelphia ordered the creation of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and Rev. Wales was instrumental in its formation.
The church suffered through some difficult times during the remainder of the 1700’s. During this period, Princeton University was built and the village of Princeton expanded, while the population of Kingston declined. (At that time, Kingston extended as far as Snowden Lane.) Consequently, the church lost many members to the “new” Presbyterian Church down the road in Princeton.
It was also during this time that the Revolutionary War was fought in the area, and British officers were quartered in local homes. Gen. Washington became a recognizable figure in the Kingston area at the time. Not only did he lead his troops past the church to escape Cornwallis, but he also had his headquarters hardly a mile from the church while the Continental Congress sat in Nassau Hall.
The original church building in the cemetery burned down in 1791, and another was erected in 1792 on the same foundation. The congregation worshipped in this frame structure until 1852, when the present building on Main Street in Kingston was constructed on land purchased from Elijah Stout. In 1853, the church building in the cemetery was sold.
In 1800, the Kingston Presbyterian Church began a period of prosperity and growth, which continues to this day. The church sent its first foreign missionaries to China in the early 1800s. Today the church sponsors missionaries in many foreign countries including India, China, Haiti, France, and others. The church’s membership has increased to over 200, major additions have been made to the church building on Main Street, and ancillary buildings have been constructed (the Parish House and Manse). The church has sponsored work camps to North Dakota,
Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Maine, and Mississippi. Other churches have been incubated (Taiwanese and Hispanic). Currently it hosts both a Japanese and a Korean language congregation.
The Kingston Presbyterian Church remains a vibrant part of the Kingston community. Books of our history have been published. If you would like a printed version of our history, please contact the church office.
4565 Route 27 Kingston NJ 08528
Phil Kramer
- Zoning Board
- Chairman Advisory Board of Health
- Ethics Board
- FTTV Volunteer
- Officer, Taxpayers United In Franklin (beTUF)
- Canal Fest Committee
- Cedar Hill Cemetery Board member
- Liaison to Open Space Committee
- Liaison to Trails Committee
- Liaison to Advisory Board of Health
- Library Board
- Chairman of Manager Search Committee
- Member of Economic Development Committee
- Member of Public Safety Committee
- Member of Public Works Committee
- Member of Financial Oversight Committee
- Community foundation
If incumbent, how many years have you served: Council 2010 – 2015, Mayor 2016 – Present
Membership in any civic organizations: (past and present)
- Zoning Board
- Chairman Advisory Board of Health
- Ethics Board
- FTTV Volunteer
- Officer, Taxpayers United In Franklin (beTUF)
- Canal Fest Committee
- Cedar Hill Cemetery Board member
- Liaison to Open Space Committee
- Liaison to Trails Committee
- Liaison to Advisory Board of Health
- Library Board
- Chairman of Manager Search Committee
- Member of Economic Development Committee
- Member of Public Safety Committee
- Member of Public Works Committee
- Member of Financial Oversight Committee
- Community foundation
What do you see as your three top issues, and how do you plan on dealing with them:
Taxes – The reason I got into local politics was taxes. When I first arrived in town, my taxes were $6500. Soon they were $7500, then $8500 then $9500. Then I got involved. I joined a group called Taxpayers United in Franklin in 2003 and have been to virtually every Council meeting since. I pushed the BOE to televise their meetings (more later) and to have an outside review of their budget. It created openness and saved millions. The Council decided to get an outside review based on my recommendation.
In 2009 I was elected to the 3rd Ward Council seat and took office in 2010 just as the Great Recession was taking hold. The Town was projected to run out of money in 2 ½ years. Unfortunately, to balance the budget I asked the Council to, of all things, raise taxes. However, the Council and I met the challenge with a large cut in spending as well. These measures saved the town’s finances so now we are not only solvent, but also have a AA+ bond rating. The budget was $60M in 2009 the year before I took office, ten years later it is $61.5 million. A 2.5% increase over 10 year despite 19% inflation.
I became Mayor 3½ years ago and for the last three years the Municipal Tax (the only tax the Council directly controls) has increased 0%, 0.5% and 0%. This while inflation was 2.5%
Yet we are still providing services. We are paving roads 4 times faster than when I took office and are paying for much of it with cash rather than bonding to save you money. We are refurbishing our water system too. We are building a youth center with a northern branch to the Library. In the middle of the town, we are building a Community Center using shared services with our school system and we are planning to build, rather than rent, a southern branch to our Library, which will again save money.
Our purchase of Consolata Mission prevented hundreds of homes from being built, allowed us to save the School System $1.5M and we hope will be the home of a YMCA.
We are attracting new business to help offset residential taxes. These businesses, including the Amazon facility coming to town, will put roughly a 2.3% downward pressure on your total property tax (all things being equal).
Opportunities for our youth – The youth center, community center, library branches, YMCA and the many parks we are building are bringing new learning opportunities to our youth in the form of recreation and training. They, along with our schools, are the foundation of our youth initiative. Everyone on the Council, particularly Councilwoman François, have been instrumental in moving all of this forward.
Open Government – As I indicated above I was the initiating force, as a civilian, to get the Board of Education to televise their meetings. I was on the initial team who recorded Town Council meetings. Since then I have been involved with the initiating of televising or streaming of Zoning Board, Planning Board, Library Board, Sewage Authority, most civilian boards and I’m currently pushing the Freeholders to provide their videos to Franklin TV.
My critical thinking skills from my training as one of the leading Neurologists in my field in the country as well as my science and math skills from my degrees in computer science and as an Aerospace Engineer have helped me, along with my Council Colleagues, move the Town forward. My Air Force training as a B52 pilot taught me that despite the challenges you must always keep fighting for what is right.
Phil Kramer
Phillip Kramer
Township Resident Since:
1998
Employment:
Neurologist, JFK Hospital
If incumbent, what term will this be (second, third, etc.):
Currently a Councilman
What is the single biggest issue facing your constituents, and what is your plan to address it:
Property Taxes is what concerns most citizens. What I have already done I started as a private citizen. I lobbied the Board of Education to do an operational audit of its spending. It has saved millions of dollars per year. The Town Council then did the same and it too found millions of dollars in savings. Once elected I changed the way our local government addresses the budget. Under my instruction we now have the means to look at the effects of spending and taxes over a five year period. With this tool we have been able to reduce Township spending by 4% over 5 years despite a cumulative 10% inflation over that time. We also downsized government 16% by cross training employees thus adding efficiency. Yet with all those savings we are paving roads 4 times faster than before I took office.
I did all this during the “Great Recession”. On the day I took office 5 years ago the town was going to run out of money in 2 ½ years. Not only have the measures I’ve taken prevented that but we are now solvent for over 10 years with one of the highest bond ratings in the state. That saves you money.
Why should people vote for you:
My opponent has said “Controlling spending, that’s the only thing that will help out with taxes.” Yet he voted for more spending than anyone else on Council. He has talked about controlling spending, I have done it. The plain truth is anyone who promises to cut your taxes is lying. Taxes like everything else goes up. I however have done more than made promises, I have reduced spending yet increased services all during one of the most difficult economic periods in our Nation’s history. There is more work to do and if you elect me to be Mayor I’ll be there for you. For more of my accomplishments please go to kramer4mayor.com.
429 Canal Road Somerset
Agnes Kulu-Banya
Township Resident Since: 29 years
Employment: Retired from New Brunswick Board of Education
What is the single biggest issue facing your constituents, and what is your plan to address it:
Academic Development/Performance
Why should people vote for you:
When people vote for me, they are sending a well qualified person to the board, who understands the Academic problems that face Franklin Township. An individual who will help focus the city on what is truly important in education, the students and the communities they live in. A person who knows the inner workings of school systems and the workings of organizations at the city and state levels. A professional who knows how to work as a team player and has experience working at different levels in the field of education and with certain levels of government in New Jersey. People who vote for me will have an accessible member, who knows the community Collaboration and involvement, Accountability and Transparency, School Safety, Mentoring and Tutoring.
Nancy LaCorte
Are you an incumbent?
Board member from 2006 until 2012 and 2013 until present.
Current Committees: Certified Board Member, NJSBA; Vice President; Chair – Finance; Member – Facilities; Member – Personnel; Member – Policy; Member – Ad Hoc Strategic Planning; Chair – Ad Hoc Professional Services; Alternate Member – Curriculum; Board Liaison to FHS
Previous Committees: VP; Chair & Member – Policy; Chair & Member – Communications; Chair – Ad Hoc Special Education; Member – Finance; Member – Facilities; Member – Safety & Security; Member – Transportation; Member – Ad Hoc ByLaws
What are your top three issues, and how do you plan on dealing with them?
- Naturally curriculum is a part of everything that we do, so continuing to offer high quality and diverse course offerings to students to prepare them for college, work force, military, or where ever they go in life
- Complete referendum projects and redistricting with the least amount of disruption to educational process
- Continue a transparent, open dialogue with the community
- 4. Continue to provide effective and meaningful professional development with our staff
Nancy LaCorte
If incumbent, how many years have you served:
I was elected in 2006 and served until 2013. I took a year off to care for my father and was re-elected in 2014 and again in 2017.
Membership in any civic organizations:
Serving on the Board of Education takes a lot of my time but I love it! As Board president, I attend all of the Board’s committee and ad hoc meetings. I also serve as the ex-officio member to the Franklin Township Warrior Education Foundation and to the Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce. When asked I love volunteering for school sponsored organizations.
What do you see as your three top issues, and how do you plan on dealing with them:
Funding – Like most people, the biggest challenge for NJ school boards is balancing the budget and staying within the 2% cap while providing a quality education. I am extremely proud of the choices we have been able to offer our students but it becomes harder and harder each year. This current budget year we have budgeted $15M for charter schools which are also funded with public monies. The charter schools project how many students and we are required to reallocate that money from our programming. At the end of the school year they do not have as many students but we were unable to offer the programs in the Franklin Township Public Schools. We have been working with our legislators to minimize the impact charter schools have on our budget.
Equal Opportunity Schools – Another problem facing virtually every public school in the country is we have currently unequal student achievement levels for different groups of students. This is about socio-economic, race, ability, and students who are just learning the language. If a district has a certain proportion of groups we should expect to see equal outcome over all groups. The Board approved in it’s first goal “To aid the expansion of innovative college and career readiness programs, affording students the opportunity to pursue their passions with the necessary academic and social/emotional supports to reach their fullest academic potential as measured by individual academic and cultural gains.”
Get Involved – For parents, be involved in your child’s education. We have many school sponsored organizations such as PTO/PTSOs at every school. Our Booster Club provides scholarships for our student athletes. Project Graduation has ways to get involved as early as 9th grade so when your child graduates high school they can celebrate at an all-night, safe party exclusive to our graduating seniors. We have incredible and award-winning student performances. We have many school sponsored organizations that you can become a part of. As a community, attend our student’s performances and sporting events. Support organizations that offer our students scholarships and opportunities after graduation by attending their events. I am an extremely proud Warrior for Life recipient (2018) and their sole purpose is to provide scholarships to our students. Another school sponsored organization is the new Franklin Township Warrior Educational Foundation which supports teacher grants. This will fund small teacher grants for outside-of-the-box projects that if successful might be incorporated into the district’s programming. I personally try to volunteer and attend as many events as my schedule permits. I get to see and talk to the kids, staff, parents, and community members. I want to know what people think and how they think we are doing. I met my running mates – Ardaman Singh and Walter Jackson through their involvement and volunteerism.
To address these issues is through communication and collaboration. We have worked hard to communicate our issues to the public that we serve. We need to work together as a community and with our legislators in Trenton to reach solutions that benefit our children’s futures.
Kunal Lakhia
Experience:
My name is Kunal Lakhia and along with my beautiful wife Pinky and the star of our eyes Arnav, have been a resident of Franklin Township for over 9 years now. With a degree in Electronics Engineering, I have worked my way to be a Head of Talent Acquisition at a renowned IT services organization. Public service has been very close to my heart and have been doing that through my teens till date. Being part of the Leo Club moment, I held various chairmanships of the committees to help blind, handicapped people in India. Worked were closely to provide medical attention & facilities to the needy who could not afford it. One of the major projects we initiated was project GEM: Grain, Education and Medicine. We provided opportunities for students to sought education and did not have means in variety of ways. This along with subsidizing food [free at times] and provide medicines at no or very low cost. I am very actively involved in the Thomas Edison Energy Smart Charter School and have had very constructive role in its success. It has now ranked amongst the top school districts.
In an increasingly competitive world, the overall development of kids will help ensure their future success. Education plays a very critical role in preparing our youth for the challenges of tomorrow. Taking very active interest in my kids’ education has helped me get a perspective of what works and what does not in our township schools. My aim would be to improve and take our schools to the blue ribbon status. There are learnings from both public and charter schools that can be used for overall benefits of all. Together we have to make sure that through highest quality education, we help secure our kid’s future.
If not, have you held any elected position before, and if so, what:
I am part of local Democratic Party committee.
Top three issues:
- Uplifting Quality of Education at our township schools – We have good teachers! What we need in my opinion is to provide them with opportunities for individual skill growth. That will trickle down to our kids. Innovative teaching techniques will help the absorption and retention levels in our kids. One size fits all can’t be the approach. The kids who need more attention should be able to get it. All of us face a tough work life balance situation. Educating the parents to get involved in their kids studies and extra circular activities dramatically improves the chances of kid’s success. Provide and encourage various extra curriculum opportunities. Community and school interaction can be improved so that any funding issues may be tackled through public participation. Through student achievements, test scores and graduation rate, lay out a clear path and strategy to achieve the goal of our school district to be a blue ribbon certified!
- Better Budgetary Management – One thing I have learned is that the charter schools get approximately 80% of the budgetary allocation of cost per student as compared to the funding at public schools. Yet they are able to provide better quality education with a focus on the up and coming streams of STEAM. This is purely due to better utilization and planning. I hope to bring that to all of our schools and make our dollars go further without raising taxes!
- Investments and Facilities – Best of the intentions can’t progress without proper and timely investments. Creating better facilities for STEAM and sports will encourage our kids. Investment is not just monetary, we bring in successful Franklin Township residents for motivational speeches and create a mentorship program to help kids guide through the maze.
Lener, Myler & Company, P.C.
605 Franklin Boulevard Suite 2A Somerset NJ 08873
Christopher Lezny , Ward 1
Macedonia Church
127 Fuler Street Somerset 08873
Martha Humphrey, PC
123 Any Street Somerset NJ 08873
Masjid-e-Ali Mosque
With the ever-increasing Shia Ithna-asheri population in Central Jersey, Masjid-e-Ali (a.s) (Muslim Foundation Inc.) embarked on the noble cause of building a mosque, and, purchased a building on a 3.3-acre parcel of land at a cost of $550,000. This was a major milestone on a journey to fulfill an absolute need and a long-cherished dream of the community.…
Read MoreWith the ever-increasing Shia Ithna-asheri population in Central Jersey, Masjid-e-Ali (a.s) (Muslim Foundation Inc.) embarked on the noble cause of building a mosque, and, purchased a building on a 3.3-acre parcel of land at a cost of $550,000. This was a major milestone on a journey to fulfill an absolute need and a long-cherished dream of the community. Most of our members live within a radius of 20 miles of the property.
Mosque is our identity and by the Grace of Allah SWT the foundation of Masjid-e-Ali (as) on 15th Shaba’an 1427 AH / September 9, 2006.
Masjid-e-Ali (a.s)’s (Muslim Foundation Inc.) strength lies in its very democratic Constitution. It helps to bring in the right people to the right job through regular elections held every three years.
47 Cedar Grove Lane Somerset NJ 08873
Karen Masters
Experience
If incumbent, how many years have you served:
I don’t have any experience as an elected official, but I do remember what it was like to be a public school student in central New Jersey. More importantly, both of my children are currently in the Franklin public schools. One is in honors classes, and one is in special education, so I have seen a lot different aspects of our school system. I have a master’s degree in art therapy and I’m sure I would be an effective member of the Board of Education.
Issues
What do you see as your three top issues, and how do you plan on dealing with them:
I started on this journey because when I went to the Franklin Board of Education for help with the special education program I was treated with contempt and dismissed by the board. Ms. Desai didn’t say a word and Mr. Smith thought it was somehow helpful to tell me that another board member had been diagnosed with dyslexia (my daughter’s diagnosis) and had overcome it. That was not helpful.
While my husband and I were looking into the school system and what resources it could offer, we learned that Franklin spends millions of dollars to send children to charter schools. Franklin will spend 17 MILLION dollars on charter schools in 2021. That was shocking to me. That’s money that could be spent in tons of other ways. The voters of Franklin need to be made aware of this and we need a real discussion of what motivates residents to want to take money from the public schools to send their children to charter schools.
I also think that our schools should be friendlier and happier places. My family has had experience with Franklin Park Elementary School, Sampson G. Smith Middle School, and now Franklin High School. I know middle school is a tough time, but Ms. Rutledge runs the middle school like a prison. I don’t want my kids to have to experience that kind of hostility from the school administration.
I know the coronavirus pandemic is ruining everything, but I am hopeful for the future. I want to plan for our children to take more class trips to learn about arts and culture. I went to school in a nearby district and I know how many fantastic places are within about an hour of our schools. Why don’t we have more field trips?
Let’s keep more of the district’s money in our public schools and bring more compassion to our school board. As a board member, I’ll encourage other members to work together and I’ll have real empathy towards the parents and students of our town. If someone needs help with an issue, I’ll do whatever I legally can to steer them in the right direction. I’ll make sure everyone, including special education students, honors students, shy students, musically talented students, athletes, mathletes, is Included and valued.
I’m asking for your vote so that I can serve you and your children in the coming years. Thank you.
Laurie Merris
Township Resident Since: 2001
Employment: Director, Account Management, Medical Services and Solutions, Cardinal Health
What is the single biggest issue facing your constituents, and what is your plan to address it:
Financial oversight and coordination of the “One Less Move-On the Move” initiative, while insuring a safe and supportive learning environment for our students.
The people of Franklin Township have voted to implement a very forward thinking and comprehensive facilities project. It is my belief that they are looking to the BOE members to insure that the dollars allocated are well spent. With two architectural firms as well as the many RFP’s and contractors that are to follow, coordination will be key. It is crucial that the BOE remain vigilant in their oversight of financial expenditures, adherence to construction timelines, and the potential for impact to the learning environment as we implement this plan.
Why should people vote for you:
Professionally, I work as a spend analytics consultant in the healthcare industry. I am experienced in building consensus within multi-functional teams, project management, and RFP review. I am also the parent of a Franklin Township public school student. I am committed to doing all that I can to make sure that all of our children receive the education that they need to thrive as independent members of our society.
Middlebush Reformed Church
1 So. Middlebush Rd. Somerset 08873
Estelle M. Mitzen
Experience
If incumbent, how many years have you served: N/A
If not, have you held any elected position before, and if so, what: No I have never held an elected position.
Membership in any civic organizations:
I have spent time and energy helping others by selling funnel cakes at the fireman’s fair, being Santa’s helper for children’s breakfast with Santa and spent time as a social member of the Red Knights and eventually serving as the secretary for 6 years. My career has been spent working in various positions of environment, health and safety where I am looking out for the health and safety of people I support while ensuring that there is no harm to the environment.
Issues
What do you see as your three top issues, and how do you plan on dealing with them:
The first issue I want to tackle is bringing balance to the Township Council by bringing in another political philosophy that will represent all of the folks living in Franklin who may be more conservative in their ideology. Right now the Township Council is made only of folks from one political philosophy leaving out the representation of the people of our town who differ from that approach. It is never good to shut out an entire section of people and by not having a Republican representative on the council, that is in essence what is happening. Every tax payer deserves to have their voices heard in the form of their representative. The way to achieve that is of course to be elected. The most effective way to balance the council would be to have more than 1 republican elected however, even 1 is better than none. When everyone thinks the same way you will only ever get one response, one method to handle an issue and only one voice. With people of different opinions you will get a more robust discussion, another way to handle an issue and conceivably be richer in the outcome by coming up with resolutions that may not have otherwise be achieved.
I would like to ensure that the town doesn’t outgrow itself with overbuilding. My husband grew up here and has conveyed to me in his lifetime this community has grown from a rural farming community to a bustling suburb that it is today. As a child, his parents could allow him to safely ride his bicycle through the many wooded areas through town without worry. As we continue to grow we can lose that sense of safety of allowing our children to wander through their town.
But safety isn’t the only thing we can lose. I have made a career working in the Environmental, Health and Safety arena for over 3 decades and living in Franklin for 14 years now I have come to notice an increase in flooding in some parts of town during heavy rainstorms. As the building progresses this will continue to be a potential drainage issue during heavy rain storms and we have all seen the affects of flooding, which rarely occurred when my husband was a child growing up here. That means that we are creating the flooding by diminishing drainage. The drainage is being diminished by over building. Once the buildings, go up you lose that space forever. Not only does it affect drainage it also affects the landscape and the feel of the town. Franklin will be forever changed and if it continues it will not be recognizable to the people who grew up here. It will loose its charm and small town feeling that I was attracted to when I came to live here.
Lastly, it is important to continue to keep property taxes from sky rocketing as it has in other communities so that people who live here can continue to live here. Keeping the towns budget at an achievable level without having to increase taxes is the goal that will continue to keep Franklin an affordable town to live in.