Plainsboro GOP candidate wants to slow growth

By: Gwen McNamara , Staff Writer 10/21/2003

Richard Nicoletti faces off against two Democratic incumbents and an independent candidate.    PLAINSBORO — Richard Nicoletti, Republican candidate for Township Committee, is on the road to recovery.    "I am feeling better," Mr. Nicoletti said in an interview Monday.    Mr. Nicoletti missed participating in The Packet's editorial board session on Oct. 7 after a health problem forced him to go to the hospital.    Mr. Nicoletti, a teacher at Perth Amboy High School, is vying for one of two seats on the Township Committee. Also running are incumbent Democrats Neil Lewis and Ginger Gold and Green Party candidate Patrick Goldsmith.    On Monday, Mr. Nicoletti sounded off on many of the issues the other candidates discussed Oct. 7.    He is concerned the township is growing too quickly and believes the Township Committee should do more to improve traffic flow in the municipality.    "This town is too developer-friendly," he said. "And I think the rate of growth is just too fast.    "We also need to put more pressure on the state to fix intersections like Walker Gordon and Plainsboro roads," he continued. "And I am opposed to Route 92."    Route 92 has long been proposed to connect the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 8A to Route 1 near Ridge Road in South Brunswick. Mr. Nicoletti believes the roadway would damage wetlands and have an adverse effect on the Plainsboro Preserve. The Democratic incumbents favor the roadway.    Mr. Nicoletti said he is interested in preserving more open space in the township, particularly in areas other than the Plainsboro Preserve.    He is also concerned with the availability of affordable housing in the township and believes recent problems between the police department's rank-and-file officers and Chief of Police David Lyon could be resolved if the structure of the department were altered.    Mr. Nicoletti stressed he will provide a spark of debate on the Township Committee.    "I may have an 'R' next to my name, but I am an independent-minded person," he said. "Right now there is no debate on the committee, meetings are over in 15 minutes and it seems like everyone is afraid to disagree with the mayor, at least in public. I believe there needs to be more debate."

Reader Opinions Post your opinion and share your thoughts with other readers!  Name: Patrick Goldsmith Date: Oct, 23 2003 First let me say I am not The Independant Candidate, I am the Green Party Candidate. Also, I was mis-quoted in the article Ms. MacNamara did on our 3-way interview at your offices. I do not admire what the current Administration has done or plans to do concerning the Town Center. I have stated that the overdevelopment in Plainsboro is rife. This you printed accurately in the first article, written by Mr. Campbell. Please do not misquote me again. If you need to clearify "your read" on my opinions please contact me at my email address, or by phone at the # I have given you. I have also given your paper evidence of fraud and non-compliance with State, County & Plainsboro Township Statutes, (by The Plainsboro Township Housing Department, under the direction of the Committee I am running to have a seat on). This story has not been followed up on by your paper. As my campaign has now raised a fair bit of money, I know there is support for the Green Party here in Central New Jersey, I will not assume it is only due to to my appeal. The ability of the press to get any story right is important to the people who trust in your words as fact. I have seen, at best, mixed results from your paper on this campaign. I do appreciate your efforts, but see a laxity in the results...With kind regards, Patrick D. Goldsmith, Green Party Candidate for Plainsboro Township Committee.