Ashok Rakhit and Will DiGrande
“We’re your neighbors, ready to serve”
TESTIMONIALS
"Regardless of party, vote Rakhit and DiGrande for Warren Township Committee" (Echoes-Sentinel, Oct. 1)
TO THE EDITOR: I believe Ashok Rakhit and Will DiGrande are the best candidates for this November’s Warren Township Committee general election for a number of reasons: increasing planning as opposed to pushing ahead with initiatives with no thoughts on cost, increasing access to local government, and an overall message of respect for residents, reversing recent trends of local government talking down to their constituents.
I strongly believe party does not matter at the local level, but there are some party-specific reasons to vote Rakhit and DiGrande.
Republicans, and especially those who voted Jolanta Maziarz and Greg Przybylski this past spring - have you noticed how Republican leadership has dismissed and insulted members of their own party simply for having a differing opinion? Rahkit and DiGrande have pledged to increase access to meetings via Zoom and video recordings, and to actually listen to residents without belittling them, regardless of party.
Rakhit and DiGrande’s Republican opponents are the only ones pushing major expenditure costs, with no proposals on how any of it’s going to be paid for outside of theoretical “private funding” for the proposed recreation center. Rakhit and DiGrande have pledged to push for a pause on the recreation center to better understand how the finances would impact potentially more pressing issues for our town, such as fire and EMS staffing.
For Democrats this is an excellent chance to finally increase representation in local government. Did you know a Democrat has not been elected to Warren Township Committee since 1999? Did you know the makeup of boards in town is at least 95 percent Republican? There is no denying Warren is a Republican-leaning town, but the registered voter split is not 95/5 - currently 37 percent of voters are registered Republican, 26 percent registered Democrat, and the rest are unaffiliated. Democrats should want higher representation in local government to better reflect the population.
Regardless of party, vote Rahkit and DiGrande for Warren Township Committee this November.
- STEVE BUMGARNER
"Rakhit and DiGrande would bring balance to the Warren Township Committee" (Echoes-Sentinel, Sept. 24)
TO THE EDITOR: In his Thursday, Sept. 19th letter to the editor, (Warren Township) Mayor Vic Sordillo pointed out that voters in areas that consistently vote for the same party get taken for granted. Although he was talking about the states, the same holds true for municipalities.
In the 40 years that I have lived in Warren, the Township Committee has always been dominated by Republicans. In fact, I can’t recall a single instance when more than one Democrat ever served. The truth of Mayor Sordillo’s statement about voters being taken for granted is evident to anyone who has attended a township or Planning Board meeting. If you have been unable to attend a township meeting, you can view videos on the township website.
I would encourage you to view the June 13th Township Committee meeting during which Mayor Sordillo illegally instructed the chief of police to forcibly remove two women, in violation of their free speech rights, because he didn’t agree with their feedback.
On the local level I believe that political parties are irrelevant. What is important to me are the candidates’ views on communication, residents’ engagement, public access to information.
Although Mayor Sordillo urged everyone to “vote down the line," I’m encouraging residents to take a close look at the candidates, then vote for whoever you think would best represent your views and bring balance to the Township Committee. For me, that is Will DiGrande and Ashok Rakhit. Please check out their clearly articulated platform at www.dems4warren.com or visit their Facebook page “Rakhit and DiGrande for Warren” to see where they stand on issues important to residents.
Just for the record, they also support our excellent police force and think they should have the tools they need to do their job.
- SHELLEY MOLNAR
"Rakhit, DiGrande will propel Warren forward, not backward"
(Echoes-Sentinel, Sept. 24)
TO THE EDITOR: On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Warren Township voters face a pivotal choice: propel our town forward or remain stuck in the past.
The Ashok Rakhit and Will DiGrande team, running for the Warren Township Committee, embodies fresh, innovative ideas and a steadfast commitment to transparency and inclusion. In stark contrast, their opponents are hand-picked by the old guard, who prefer to keep crucial matters behind closed doors and belittle those who dare to ask questions.
These qualities are more vital than ever, especially considering the most pressing issue Warren faces that no one is discussing: affordable housing. In the first half of next year, Warren must develop and document a zoning plan for 500+ new affordable housing units. This requirement translates to thousands of new units in total, given the incentives builders typically seek.
While we may not favor this mandate, the affordable housing law is in place, and the process is underway. During this critical period, I want my representatives on the Township Committee to be transparent with the numbers, options, and tough decisions — unlike the past, where most of the process occurred behind closed doors.
I firmly believe that the Rakhit-DiGrande team will provide the transparency, communication, and listening skills essential for this challenging time. I do not have the same confidence in their opponents. Please join me in voting for Rakhit and DiGrande on Nov. 5.
- WILLIAM GILBERT