Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 111th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 45-111 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, July 19, 2001 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Resident Backs McGreevey Campaign Trail Leads McGreevey Bids for Pool Design In Radio Ad To Westfield and Scotch Plains Plans May Come By STEPHEN CHIGER Specially Written for The Westfield Leader By STEPHEN CHIGER somewhere amid the handshakes and ties Construction and Financing Act, As Democrat and Woodbridge Specially Written for The Westfield Leader photo opportunities, the candidate passed one year ago, to provide state Mayor Jim McGreevey brought his He came, he saw, he shook hands. paused to address some of his views monies for public school construc- By Summer’s End gubernatorial campaign to Westfield That’s what candidates do, and that’s on education, which has come to the tion projects. last week, one resident delivered the what brought Woodbridge Mayor and forefront since a recent Quinnipiac Under this legislation, both University poll pegged it as the top Westfield and Scotch Plains are now By DEBORAH MADISON that the expansion would severely candidate’s message to thousands of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Specially Written for The Westfield Leader concern for state voters. receiving millions of state dollars impede on their adjacent yards. Less others. Jim McGreevey to Westfield and Westfield Recreation Director extensive renovations were agreed Scotch Plains last Wednesday, day Standing at a podium in a Westfield toward school modernization initia- Bruce Kaufmann will meet with en- Jill Sawers, a local independent High School (WHS) classroom, Mr. tives. upon after many meetings between voter, was featured in Mr. nine of his walk across the state. gineering and design professionals commission members and residents As they go, the five hours of cam- McGreevey highlighted his support The candidate said the act would McGreevey’s first radio ad of the Schoor DePalma of Manalapan this in the area. paigning were fairly standard. But for the New Jersey Education Facili- make renovations affordable, while general election. week to finalize the design plans that The pool complex currently in- providing tax relief for local resi- will go out for bid for the construc- In the ad, she called Republican dents. He said that in a single year, cludes a 50-meter pool measuring gubernatorial candidate and former tion phase of the Memorial Pool 165 feet by 75 feet, a 40-foot by 60- state funding received in Westfield renovation project. Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler will translate to a savings of $55 per foot diving tank, a kiddie pool and “out of step” with her values, citing If everything goes according to playground, while the adjacent Me- average town taxpayer. schedule, bids for the construction his pro-gun and anti-abortion posi- Mr. McGreevey and his supporters morial Park includes six tennis courts, phase of the project are expected to four softball fields, two basketball tions. criticized GOP opponent and former go out by the end of July or early “And while most of us with chil- Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, a courts, two soccer fields and two August and be awarded by the end of handball courts. dren are trying to make our schools 1977 WHS graduate, for opposing August. the law and broadly supporting The final pool renovations in- better, Bret Schundler’s proposals The Recreation Commission hopes clude replacing the existing diving actually take money out of public voucher-type initiatives. to begin the first phase of construc- Superintendent of Schools Dr. tank with a smaller diving tank, the schools,” she said toward the end the tion on the pool by early fall and to addition of two water slides with a 60-second spot. William J. Foley said that the high complete the construction by the school is expecting approximately 24-foot by 28-foot splash down A housewife and mother pursuing summer of 2002. area, the addition of a lap pool, her second master’s degree, Ms. 500 additional students in the next The pouring of concrete will have five years, and that a voucher system adding picnic tables and large um- Sawers has voted for both Republi- to wait until after the last frost, which brellas and upgrading other minor would not solve space problems in usually occurs in April, according to cans Christine Todd Whitman and Westfield. features. Ronald Reagan. However, she has Mr. Kaufmann. If next spring is par- The total cost of the pool project “I think it’s significant that he (Mr. ticularly rainy, then construction also voted for a number of Demo- Schundler) has been here — he gradu- will be approximately $1.2 mil- crats, including Senator Jon Corzine could be delayed and may postpone lion, which is funded entirely by ated from here — and he could walk the June 2002 opening of the pool. In and former Westfield Mayor Tho- through these halls and recognize a pool membership dues and not tax mas C. Jardim. that event, the commission will in- dollars. A plan to upgrade and reno- lot of stuff,” he said. form pool members ahead of time In a later interview, she said that However, Bill Guhl, spokesman vate the adjacent Memorial Park is Stephen Chiger for The Westfield Leader about the possible delay. also in the works. Mr. Schundler “is just very extreme PUBLIC GATHERING…Woodbridge Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial for the Schundler campaign, said in on his views.” Ms. Sawers noted that The commission hasn’t yet de- Discussions for the design phase candidate Jim McGreevey, center, met outside of The Westfield Diner, with a phone interview that Mr. Schundler cided what remedy will be offered if she was originally supporting Act- members of the community last Wednesday during a tour through Westfield wasn’t necessarily against the school of the park project will be re-ad- the opening is delayed. dressed after construction for the ing Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco. and Scotch Plains. Pictured, above, Mr. McGreevey poses for a photograph with construction act, but that the candi- The Memorial Pool renovation The release of the ad last week, local political officials. date felt he had a better option. pool is underway, Mr. Kaufmann project was first proposed in 1999 reported. The park renovations will complimented by one from Mr. Mr. Schundler’s education plan is and included extensive renovations, essentially a new twist on the voucher be funded by property taxes and Schundler’s campaign, has left some some of which were subsequently was estimated to cost approxi- analysts wondering why both candi- idea, providing tax incentives for McGreevey Meets Supporter scrapped due to residents’ objections CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 dates have started their media com- those who donate to private school mercials so early in the year. scholarship funds. Mr. Guhl said that This past weekend, Mr. Schundler Of Campaign Finance Reform this system would also encourage aired his first television advertise- the creation of more charter schools. Though the Quinnipiac poll indi- ment of the season, criticizing Mr. By STEPHEN CHIGER nance reform, and similar to Demo- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader crat Jim McGreevey’s trek across cated that more New Jersey voters McGreevey’s record as Woodbridge were in favor of a voucher system mayor and calling the candidate a The silhouette of Steve Ma sug- New Jersey, he’s going from to town gests something magnificent. Cut to town to spread his message. than against it, Mr. McGreevey said “machine politician.” the private school system simply can’t Bill Guhl, spokesman for the against the backdrop of New Jersey’s The reform-centered tenor of the varied landscape, it one is of a lone walks may be one of the few things support the 1.3 million students re- Schundler campaign, said they ceiving public education. Mr. wanted voters to understand the dif- citizen walking across the state, an Mr. Ma’s and Mr. McGreevey’s tours, American flag draped over his shoul- which crossed paths last week in McGreevey said that his opponent ference between the two candidates. would “pull the plug on public edu- He said there is less time before the der. Westfield, have in common. Mr. Ma’s cause is campaign fi- cation.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 It was day nine of Mr. McGreevey’s journey and day 86 of Mr. Ma’s, Still, the discussion’s focus on when they briefly met at around 11 education did not prevent Mr. Nov. Ballot to Include a.m. last Wednesday to talk politics. McGreevey from repeatedly noting Though Mr. McGreevey said he is in Mr. Schundler’s much-maligned anti- favor of campaign finance reform, abortion and pro-gun views, which he would not commit to Mr. Ma’s run counter to the overall state con- Freeholder Candidate, agenda, calling public financing of sensus. elections a goal more than an imme- “I think he’s outside the main- diate solution. stream values,” said Mr. McGreevey Westfield’s Jeff Schundler “Right now, the state is confront- of his opponent. “The notion of con- ing a $20 billion deficit,” said Mr. cealed weapons on (East) Broad By STEPHEN CHIGER strategies would be to convince dis- Street in Westfield is clearly not a Specially Written for The Westfield Leader McGreevey, who added it would be enfranchised Democrats to vote for his charge as governor not to incur mainstream value.” Bret Schundler isn’t the only mem- his party. “(Local) Republicans say any further obligation. Mr. McGreevey’s visit came at a ber of his family running for political they never win these elections.