TUF

Reformers revel over recall

Franklin GOP, Dems applaud ouster
Home News Tribune Online 09/13/07
By DAVID STEGON
STAFF WRITER
dstegon@thnt.com

FRANKLIN — : With the recall-election results confirmed, Democrat candidate Mike Orsini walked up to Republican winner Bob Mettler and gave him a big hug inside the Franklin Municipal Complex.

"Make us proud," Orsini said just minutes after learning Mettler had edged him by a scant 11 votes in their bid to replace Deputy Mayor Ellen Ritchie, who emphatically was recalled — by a 4-1 margin — in Tuesday night's special election.

"Bob is going to do a great job," said Orsini, chairman of the township's Shade Tree Commission and vice chairman of the Planning Board. "Sure, I would have loved to win, but getting Ellen out of office is a victory for us all."

So — for one night at least — the township's two parties joined together in celebration that the residents of the Third Ward had decided to oust Ritchie from the Township Council.

With the election decided, they celebrated together at O'Connor's Beef 'n Chowder House on Amwell Road.

"What we saw throughout this recall was a group of people trying to do what is best for the town and not looking at each other's party affiliation cards," said Chip Hoever, who headed the recall effort. "This is a message to all the politicians that we are watching you and you work for us, so you need to do what is best for your constituents and not yourselves."

The recall effort started after allegations that Ritchie did not act in the best interests of the township by supporting a 684-unit housing development between Bennetts Lane and Veronica Avenue that would satisfy the town's requirement with the state Council on Affordable Housing.

Ritchie defended her actions, saying the housing development was inevitable and that a meeting she held with developer Jack Morris in December 2005 — a meeting her detractors complained was held in secret — was to talk about decreasing the density of the project.

Ritchie also denied claims that she threatened Orsini at a Planning Board meeting after Orsini voted against the project. She said Orsini withdrew his support at the last minute and that she got caught up in the moment.

In the end, though, Third Ward residents voted 1,165-291 to remove Ritchie from office. In the vote to replace Ritchie if she were indeed recalled, Mettler received 625 votes to 614 for Orsini. Ritchie received 213 votes running as an independent in a move many said was intended to take votes away from the Democratic Party.

"I'm excited to return to office, if only to put another Republican on the board, if only to second Mayor Levine's motions," said Mettler, a member of the Township Council from 1975 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2003. "I'm hoping to bring a calming influence to the board and cut down on some of the shenanigans that have gone on."

Mettler now joins a council that has undergone a dramatic shift in the past 12 months.

Deputy Mayor Wandra Ashley-Williams resigned in October 2006 to take a job in Washington, D.C., Democrat Brian Regan resigned in January because of increasing work commitments, and Fred McKenzie resigned in May over health concerns. They were replaced by Democrats Rajiv Prasad, Dan Glicklich and Kimberly Francois, respectively.

"This council is much more responsible to the people then before," said Phil Kramer, Orsini's campaign manager. "They are going to stop giving away land to developers and just be more responsible then the old group who were loyal to their friends instead of the town."

Kramer credited the Democratic reform movement that removed former party chairman Bill Grippo in June 2006 and changed the scope of the party following Grippo's push for the Bennetts Lane development despite public outcry against it.

"If that revolution did not happen, then it is unlikely this recall would have been successful," Kramer said. "It's telling to me that the party voted unanimously to not support Ellen during this recall and push for Mike Orsini. The day of a few people deciding the township's fate is over, but at the same time it's up to us in the reform movement to do what has been promised."

Calls placed to Ritchie seeking comment were not returned.