Please Take the Time to Vote
Guy R. Wilson & Sharon Petzinger are running in the general election to give the people of Lebanon Township a choice.
We choose people over politics.
If you do, too, please vote for us.
Lebanon Township – Republican Committeewoman Beverly Koehler and former Committeeman Brian K. Wunder are facing Committeeman Guy Wilson and Sharon Petzinger, both registered Republicans running as independents, for two three-year terms on the Township Committee. Lebanon Township has had a messy few months, with the business administrator debacle, cannabis facility backtracking, and general disagreements at meetings. Our picks, although we have the utmost respect for Councilwoman Koehler and her accomplishments, and Wonder’s past work on the committee, we’ll go Wilson and Petzinger for putting the township ahead of party politics.
Guy P. Wilson, retired with a Lebanon Boro mailing address, donated to Cory Booker.
Guy R. Wilson, an attorney and our committeeman with a Califon mailing address, did not.
(scroll down for more information)
I have lived in Hunterdon County most of my life and been a resident of Lebanon Township for 17 years. I am a follower of Christ, wildlife biologist, wife, mother, and active Lebanon Township volunteer. I love the rural setting, amazing schools, and the peaceful tranquility of the township.
Why I am running for Township Committee
I see evidence of divisiveness in the township, and on the committee, and believe something needs to change to restore respectful collaboration, even during disagreements, as well as peace and tranquility in the township. I want that change enough to step up and try to make it happen.
What experience I bring to the Committee
Working for the state has taught me a lot about government bureaucracy and fiscal responsibility. As a public servant, I have learned how to collaborate to get things done, to be diplomatic while being attacked, and to discern fact from opinion. I will bring this knowledge and experience to the committee with a servant's heart.
Learn more about Sharon: Scroll down to view my answers on Vote411.org, or go to Vote411.org, type in your Lebanon Township address and then click on Lebanon Township Committee.
Guy R. Wilson
I have lived in Lebanon Township for most of my life (over 60 years!) with Hunterdon County roots dating to the 18th Century. I have been a member of the Lebanon Township Business Community for 30+ years with a Law Office located in the Township, specializing in real estate matters, land use and estates.
I have an avid interest in local history, am a husband, stepfather, active Township volunteer, and have a special interest in rescue animals, including our two (2) dogs, Coco (Shiba Inu) and Nellie (mixed breed) who we adopted from local animal shelters.
Why I am running for Township Committee
I currently serve on the Lebanon Township Committee having been elected in November 2021. I would like to continue to serve ALL the residents of Lebanon Township for the next three (3) year term.
I am a lifelong Republican and continue to remain so. I did not, however, choose to run in the June primary as certain members of the local Republican Establishment became divisive and destructive in their pursuit of “ideological purity“ claiming that I was not a “real“ Republican. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our Lebanon Township community includes Republicans, Democrats and Independents with differing views on local issues but with a shared goal of “doing the best for our Township". I subscribe to that view and dedicate myself to that goal.
What experience I bring to the Committee
I have lifelong knowledge of Lebanon Township, an appreciation for our rural environment, open space, and our unique history. I bring years of business experience, humility, and most importantly, common sense to the table.
Learn more about Guy: Scroll down to view my answers on Vote411.org, or go to Vote411.org, type in your Lebanon Township address and then click on Lebanon Township Committee.
Guy P. Wilson, retired with a Lebanon Boro mailing address, donated to Cory Booker.
Guy R. Wilson, an attorney and our committeeman with a Califon mailing address, did not.
A diligent review of the FEC Donor Site would show that over 400 political donations were made to Democratic and Republican candidates and committees, by person(s) with the name of Guy Wilson or some derivation of the same. Just a smidgeon of due diligence on the part of the respective Republican Chairman, Local and County (and the Local Republican Committee) would have revealed that this Guy R. Wilson, residing in Lebanon Township with a Califon Mailing address, was NOT the person who donated on eight (8) separate occasions to Cory Booker or Cory Booker for Senate.
Sharon Petzinger, a wildlife biologist for NJ Fish and Wildlife, voted in the Democratic primary in 2017 to have a say in who the gubernatorial candidate in the Democratic Party should be. Here is why:
I strongly believe that decisions on how to manage public trust resources should be based on science, data, and professional expertise, not dictated by politicians. More than one candidate platformed on finding loopholes in the legislation to take the management of public trust resources away from the professionals and the Fish and Game Council. In other words, to ban hunting and land stewardship in NJ. I did not want to see that happen.
The proper and ethical solution to correct the record is for the Republican Committee in Lebanon Township to send a copy of their apology to all the residents of Lebanon Township who received this false information.
That letter should also be signed by the two candidates on whose behalf this "mailer" was sent.
Our Answers at Vote411.org
One of the biggest challenges in Lebanon Township is getting residents to respect and listen to each other without passing judgment on their motivations. Whether a Township resident is a Republican, Democrat, or an independent (or not even registered) all opinions need to be considered. Unfortunately, a small minority of Township residents with the loudest voices have attempted to shut down debate on important issues facing the Township. Shutting down public debate does not belong in a functioning democracy. The First Amendment of the Constitution protects our freedom of speech but is not meant to be the freedom to disrupt and shout down your fellow citizens. With that right comes responsibility. People need to verify and fact check what they read on Facebook and other forms of social media since it often appears that ANTHING on that medium will be thrown against the wall to see if it " will stick ". It is amazing how much misinformation and innuendo makes its way into our public discourse. Respectful discussion with civil disagreement is the keystone to a healthy democracy. People on both sides of an issue should not lose their friendship with a neighbor over the same.
The annual operating budget should strive to provide the essential services residents have come to expect with the understanding that Lebanon Township is a rural community. I am of the belief that the least amount of government makes the best government. The annual budget should provide for efficiency in carrying out essential services like police protection and the maintenance of our road system. Government also has a role to play in protecting our environment and to preserve the open space we treasure. All of the above needs to be balanced with residents burden of ever increasing property taxes. Efforts to obtain grant monies from the State and Federal Government need to be maximized to offset and contribute to the annual budget. The Township also has many dedicated volunteers that serve on our various boards and organizations and this volunteerism needs to be encouraged and fostered. The capital budget should be used to provide long term strength to our infrastructure and to pursue the preservation of open space at every opportunity. There is no such thing as too much open space as some have stated on the public record.
I currently serve on the Lebanon Township Committee on the last year of a remaining term of a Committee person who resigned in December 2020. I have spent most of my life in Hunterdon County in Lebanon Township and Califon Borough (60+ years) and have a deep appreciation for our rural heritage and community. I have operated my Law Practice in Lebanon Township for 25 years and bring a local perspective to the table and a common sense approach to governing from my business experience and knowledge of the Township. I have no personal agenda to fulfill and will always look out for the best interests of the Township, whether my view on the issue is popular or not.
Planned development which contributes to the local business environment should be encouraged. It should be pursued in sections of the Township as shown in our Master Plan. Other sections of the Township should more appropriately be kept rural and include open space for recreation and preservation. I am a firm supporter of the " Forest Stewardship " program in order to preserve our valued forested areas and voted for the Township to participate in preserving our municipally owned forested areas through a Forest Stewardship Plan financed by the Highlands Council through the DEP. While balancing economic development with open space can be difficult task, I will continue to do my utmost to reach that goal.
Many people in Lebanon Township would say change, though each person has a different definition of what that is. Change, whether it’s guidance on COVID, newcomers with different values, or new federal or state laws, esp. with unfunded mandates on municipalities, is inevitable and usually outside the control of local government. What is even more challenging is how we handle change as a community and governing body. Over the last two years divisiveness, fear, and mistrust have been growing among residents and within the Township Committee, even among people within the same political party. Insults, misinformation, fear mongering, and bullying are becoming the norm, to the point where neighbors are becoming enemies with neighbors because they disagree on whether a certain change is good or bad. I cannot stop change from happening, but I can restore trust and model what it means to treat others as fellow human beings through modeling respectful behavior on the Township Committee, even during disagreements. I will listen to and consider all sides before making decisions, discern fact from opinion, and collaborate with others to get things done for all residents in Lebanon Township.
My main priority encompasses wise and careful spending of the taxpayer monies that fund both budgets. This means having realistic budgets that each account for inflation, anticipated retirements and unfunded state mandates, and large capital expenditures, all while finding innovative ways to maximize the service/value each dollar provides. Another priority is to pursue grants so employees and volunteers can do more for the community without putting the financial burden on residents. Some necessary capital expenditures can have substantial costs and require a down payment and financing. The ability to create and maintain reserve funds for large down payments will help spread out the tax burden and lower overall interest costs. We need to also ensure township vehicles, equipment, and buildings are well-maintained to maximize their longevity, and accurately include those maintenance costs in the operating budget. While doing all of this, we need to ensure employees (e.g. police, DPW, office staff) and volunteers are operating efficiently at high productive and creative levels without getting overwhelmed, burned out or disgruntled.
Having grown up in Hunterdon County and now raising my family in Lebanon Township, I want this to be a safe and pleasant community to live. I chose to run for Township Committee after witnessing unprofessional and self-centered behaviors from local elected officials. This behavior divides the community by instigating fear, anger, and mistrust.
I will bring to the Committee wisdom and experience from all facets of my life: navigating government bureaucracy, managing budgets, writing grants, making decisions based on facts, and maintaining diplomacy. This wisdom and experience will be accompanied with an intent to serve the community of Lebanon Township, not myself or my own agenda, and I will do so with humility, integrity, and respect.
When facing decisions about those competing issues, I look to how the residents voted. Over 70% of the voters in Lebanon Township approved open space tax referendums, which says a lot. Most residents I’ve spoken with moved here because of its rural setting and I think it’s very important to maintain that as well as outdoor recreational opportunities for the public. Fortunately, being a state-employed wildlife biologist for the last 20 years and an appointed volunteer on the Lebanon Township Environmental and Open Space Commission for the last 7 years, I have the expertise to continue to champion the preservation and stewardship of Lebanon Township’s open space lands.