Warren's Republican Township Committee Candidate Refuses to Debate

Campaign season is in full swing, and election day is less than one week away. Voters are able to cast their ballots in multiple ways: via mail-in ballots, early in-person voting from 10/29-11/6, and at their polling places on election day November 8.

Unfortunately for Warren voters, one option they do not have is the chance to hear our Township Committee candidates participate in a public debate. This is because the Republican
candidate, Lisa Lontai, refused to respond to the Democratic candidate’s invitations to debate. Ashok Rakhit, our Democratic candidate, sent his initial request to Ms. Lontai on 9/15, with follow-up requests sent on 9/21, 9/30 and October 8. No response was ever received.

Warren voters deserve better. The choices made by the Township Committee over the next three years will determine whether we thrive and grow as a community, with better planning and
more thoughtful decision making, or whether we remain on our current path of
haphazard building and poorly conceived commercial and housing development. Mr. Rakhit, who is currently serving on the Somerset County Planning Board, promises to engage residents in major development decisions. Residents should have the opportunity to ask Ms. Lontai if she is willing to do the same. However, given Ms. Lontai’s reluctance to engage with voters as a candidate, it seems unlikely that she will engage the community as a sitting committee member.

Greater transparency and accountability are what Mr. Rakhit pledges to bring to our local government. Warren residents should expect no less, and accept no less, from their elected
officials.

Patti O'Byrne, Warren Township Democratic Chair