Election 2024: Michael Havardansky For South Brunswick Council

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Republican Michael Havardansky is seeking a seat on the South Brunswick Town Council.

Havardansky is running alongside Brian Wojaczyk and Steven R Simon.

In a Q&A with Patch, Havardansky talks about his plans for the township and how he would go about solving some pressing issues.

The general election is on Nov. 5.

Patch has sent out a questionnaire to all Council candidates. They will be published as we receive them. If you are a candidate and haven’t heard from us, please contact Sarah Salvadore at sarah.salvadore@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements.

Name: Michael Havardansky

Age: 58

Party: Republican

Town of residence: South Brunswick

Education: B.S. Accounting Seton Hall University

Occupation: Vice President Controller of an apparel company

1. What drove you to seek public office?

I’m running because I believe the South Brunswick Township Council needs to move forward in a new direction. The focus of government should always be on moving the township forward but under the current leadership, South Brunswick is falling behind. South Brunswick’s master plan is outdated, all we do is build warehouse after warehouse and our redevelopment plans are unfocused and haphazard. Take a look at the towns around us - Montgomery is turning the area around Rt. 206 and Rt. 518 into a mix of retail and housing, Princeton is creating a town center around the Princeton Shopping Center. North Brunswick and West Windsor are building transit villages and East Brunswick is building an ice skating rink and a bowling alley. All of these towns are adding these things to make their towns a better and more desirable place to live, while South Brunswick keeps losing these things. In the 27 years I’ve lived in South Brunswick, we’ve lost family entertainment like the roller skating rink, movie theater, and the YMCA. South Brunswick Square, which was kind of a town center, was turned into a vacant used car lot. We have lost restaurants like Café Colore, Sens, Rumbelseats and Friendly’s only to have them replaced by White Castle, Popeye’s, and Taco Bell. Our taxes continue to rise yet our roads are cracked and filled with potholes. Our parks are deteriorating. If we don’t start to change direction to keep up with the towns around us property values will begin to decline.

2. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I believe my 35 years of accounting and finance experience and fresh perspective is exactly what the township council needs. I first ran for office in town two years ago and learned a lot. Since then, I have become a member of the township Economic Development and Traffic Advisory committees.

3. What, according to you, is the biggest issue facing the township right now?

When I speak to the younger generation centralization and sustainability are big topics. They like to walk and bike, they don’t want to have to get in the car every time they need something. The towns around us seem to understand this and are building for the future, while South Brunswick continues to build warehouses and randomly drop apartment buildings on land-locked vacant lots. We need a better plan or the towns around us will all become more desirable places to live, which will drive down property values.

4. The township had to increase taxes due to $1.8 million overspending in the past. What are your plans to ensure no overspending occurs in the future?

I can’t imagine how that is even possible. If I surprised my CEO with a $1.8 million dollar budget shortfall at the end of the year I would be out of a job. To ensure no overspending ever happens again your original budget needs to be honest; you can’t build a best-case scenario budget and then be surprised that it didn’t come to pass. There also needs to be monthly and quarterly budget reviews, which have to include accurate forecasts and trend analysis. If costs are spiking in one area spending in another will need to be cut. Finally, there needs to be accountability for the department heads when it comes to budgeting. You have a budget you need to stick to it. This is what I do for a living and if elected I will push for accountability and transparency.

5. Several redevelopment projects are taking place in town. What’s your take on this?

As I stated earlier, redevelopment looking toward the future is essential to South Brunswick moving forward. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening here. You have close to 2,000 housing units proposed between Raymond Road and Ridge Road along Route. 1. We are putting a 300-unit apartment complex where the old Boy Scout building is on Rt. 1. The property is completely landlocked with access only to Rt. 1. Why would I want to live there when I could go to Montgomery and have shopping and restaurant’s all within walking distance? All that farmland on Ridge Rd and Schalks Crossing all plowed under to build 1600 housing units and three warehouses. I’m concerned about the redevelopment of the Mapleton Nursery and what impact it will have on Historic Kingston. I also don’t think building a warehouse directly across from Brooks Crossing School is a very good idea. All of this seems reactionary rather than planned and as I said before, all the towns around us seem to be looking to the future while we are still doing things the way we’ve always done it.

6. Even as recession fears fade, cost of living continues to be a nationwide problem. What are your plans to keep South Brunswick affordable for young families and seniors?

Getting close to retirement age myself and having two young sons just starting out in life, this issue is important to me. I would love to be able to retire and stay in South Brunswick and to have my boys be able to raise a family here. Redevelopment once again is a major factor. There are only a few over 55 communities in town; we should look to add more of those. These communities are tax-beneficial as they bring in tax revenue without overcrowding the schools. Making South Brunswick a more desirable place to live drives up property values, which in turn drives up revenues, which can lower property taxes. Driving efficiency, fiscal discipline in spending, and transparency in the budgeting process are keys to keeping expenses under control. Increased revenues and controlled spending will help keep South Brunswick affordable.

7. What is your favorite part about living in South Brunswick?

South Brunswick still has that small-town feel. I love my neighborhood and the people in it as well as the many other neighborhoods just like it in town, which I’ve had the pleasure to discover as I’ve campaigned. I love the history of Kingston, Dayton and Monmouth Junction. I love the location; we are a short trip from New York and Philadelphia, or the beaches and the mountains.

8. Favorite place to visit with family in South Brunswick?

I’ve always been partial to Woodlot and Reichler parks. I have such great memories of T-ball games or taking my boys to play on the swings or going to camps and classes at the community center. Picking pumpkins and getting lost in the corn maze at Von Thun's farm. I also love going to La Taverna for the Orecchiette Ragu.

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