The Alternative Press

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - As Barack Obama and Mitt Romney squared off in their first debate Wednesday night, residents of New Providence wined and dined with Councilman Alan Lesnewich and candidate Gary Kapner, Republican candidates for the New Providence Borough Council.

The New Providence Republican Committee held an evening with the candidates at Creative Wallcoverings and Interiors where several politicians and many New Providence residents joined Lesnewich, Kapner and the comedic host of the night, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick. Bramnick provided some humor for the audience before the presidential debate began.

“Obviously New Providence should be very happy to have quality people running for office,” Bramnick said.

New Providence is an amazing town, the Assemblyman said. Small communities like this are really what make America great, he added.

Kapner, who is Vice President of Creative Wallcoverings and Interiors, is running for political office for the first time. As a resident of New Providence for over 20 years, he loves his town, he said. He has served on the Planning Board and said it’s been interesting to learn how to balance a community’s needs with those of property owners.   

He has been active in the community for about a decade and has been a major player in the Downtown Improvement District. He also was the founder of the New Providence Business & Professional Association, is the former President of the organization and continues to be an active member of its Board. 

He told TheAlternativePress.com he would like to see more businesses in the community and it is imperative to improve the downtown, as well.

“We need to revitalize our downtown,” Kapner said. “We need to figure out ways to manage the parking in downtown and make it more attractive.”

As a lifelong resident of New Providence, Lesnewich said there is nowhere else he would rather live. While he only got involved with Borough politics three years ago, he has been immersed in the community for a long time. Lesnewich is an Elder at the Presbyterian Church, teaches Bible class to high schoolers, and coached PAL baseball, boys and girls PAL basketball and travel youth hockey.

When he was asked to fill the remainder of current Mayor Brooke Hern’s council term two years ago he was a bit surprised, he said. Lesnewich said he didn’t expect to be asked, but obliged and stepped up to the plate.

“I was very surprised that the council selected me to be the next councilman.” he said.

He has loved serving the town and working with his fellow councilmen has been a privilege, he said. New Providence is a community of wonderful people, has great police and fire departments and an excellent educational system, Lesnewich said.

One of his goals is to continue improving the athletic fields in the community. He chairs the Borough's Capital Improvement Committee, which is involved in long term planning to improve the town's active and passive recreational facilities.

Business owner Margaret Timony said the event was great and feels both candidates will help move New Providence in the right direction. Both men are hardworking and will do what’s best for the community, Timony said.

“I think Gary will continue with the continued goodness of New Providence,” she said.