Democratic Councilman Richard Eland and Republican Barry Greenstein are running for a one-year unexpired term on the East Windsor Township Council in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election.
Eland was appointed to the council in April to fill the vacancy created when former Councilman Anthony Katawick moved out of state. Mayor Janice Mironov administered the oath of office to Eland at the April 14 council meeting.
Greenstein is making his second run for Township Council in as many years. He was one of three Republican candidates seeking three four-year council seats in November 2025.
East Windsor’s seven-member council is elected to staggered four-year terms, with the mayor and deputy mayor selected by the council from among its members.
Eland is a retired attorney and longtime real estate professional. Before joining the council, he served on the East Windsor Planning Board, Environmental Commission and Green Team. He currently serves as the council liaison to the Health Advisory Board and Commission on Aging and remains a member of the Green Team.
Eland spent more than 30 years in the New Jersey title insurance industry as a title examiner and residential and commercial real estate transaction closer. He also owned title insurance agencies in Mercer County for more than 11 years and practiced as a real estate attorney.
He is a former president of the New Jersey Land Title Association and Princeton Bar Association and a former chair of the Mercer County Bar Association’s Real Estate Section.
Eland earned a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from the University of Rochester and a law degree from New York Law School. He volunteers with Meals on Wheels of Mercer County and WWFM-JazzOn2 at Mercer County Community College. He also previously served as a Boy Scout troop committee chairman and youth soccer coach.
Greenstein has lived in East Windsor for 17 years. He is a U.S. Army veteran, local business owner and transportation industry professional. He said his work involves managing relationships with customers, trucking company owners, dispatchers and drivers.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Greenstein is an elected Republican committee member representing East Windsor District 6 and regularly attends Township Council and Board of Education meetings.
The Windsor-Hights Herald asked both candidates about their backgrounds and priorities.
What qualifications and experience would you bring to the office you are seeking, and how would they help you serve the community?
Eland: I currently serve as an East Windsor council member. I am the Township Council liaison to the Health Advisory Board and the Commission on Aging, and a member of the East Windsor Green Team. I am formerly a member of the East Windsor Planning Board and Environmental Commission. I volunteer with Mercer Meals on Wheels and WWFM-JazzOn2 at Mercer County Community College.
I have over 35 years of experience working in Mercer County as a real estate legal professional and retired attorney. I am a former committee chair for a local Boy Scout troop for over five years and was a youth soccer coach for over 12 years. This broad spectrum of community service provides me with substantial relevant background and will continue to help me anticipate and understand the needs of our residents and businesses.
Greenstein: I bring years of business experience as a leader and manager in the transportation field, which involves dealing cohesively with many people, including executives at my customers, trucking company owners, dispatchers and drivers. We all work together to achieve the common goal of delivering the goods in a timely fashion to the customers. This will help me as a council member, as I will need to work with other council members and elected officials, as well as township employees and township residents, to make life better in our community.
What are the most important issues facing your municipality, and what specific actions would you pursue in this office to address them?
Eland: A priority is being fiscally responsible to support the policies of the current administration in holding the line on municipal taxes. Eleven of the last 13 years had no increase in the municipal portion of our taxes. At the same time, I will strive to maintain East Windsor’s excellent level of municipal services, from our highly professional police department that protects our community to our hard-working Public Works Department that provides year-round important services.
I would continue roadway improvements and park upgrades by pursuing federal, state and county grants at no cost to the municipal taxpayer. And finally, I would work to bring new businesses and stores to the township, which expand convenient shopping opportunities and add jobs for our residents.
I support our first-rate Township Senior Center with a diverse array of programming providing educational, social, health and exercise activities for all of our senior citizens. I am currently beginning my third year volunteering for Meals on Wheels of Mercer County to deliver healthy meals to homebound residents less fortunate in our community.
Greenstein: The most important issues are keeping taxes down, improving the conditions of our roads, providing safety for persons and property and transparency. I intend to work with the county, the East Windsor Board of Education and utilize all available grants to do this. More police at night are a priority, as well as communicating all that’s going on, whether through the minutes or by personally keeping residents informed through social media.
How would you limit municipal property tax increases as costs rise, and what spending changes or cost-saving measures would you support while maintaining essential services?
Eland: By continuing the township’s successful pursuit of grant funding for local road resurfacing, parks and recreational improvements, walking and bicycle trails, and public safety projects from state, federal and county sources at no cost to the municipal taxpayer.
It is also important to continue pursuing quality business ratables to maintain a stable tax base and add stores and restaurants within our community. Finally, I would increase efforts to identify suitable shared-service arrangements with fellow local governments to maintain services at reduced overall costs.
Greenstein: I would work with and monitor the Board of Education to make sure its spending is kept in check, as that accounts for over 58% of our property taxes, as well as work with county and state officials to let them know East Windsor is going to be involved in where our residents’ money is spent.
How would you involve residents in municipal decisions and keep them informed about spending, major projects and progress on your priorities?
Eland: I would continue to solicit the opinions of my East Windsor friends and neighbors to gauge our work and progress, initiate new ideas and make improvements. We have a robust e-newsletter that continues to act as a major information channel for news about the township. I would also continue to monitor new technology sources, including web design, to provide easier access to all township activities.
Greenstein: I would make sure all residents know when important resolutions and ordinances are being discussed or voted on. The most important thing an elected official can do is listen to what the taxpayers want and act on that. I will have my own newsletter emailed out and posted on social media to keep all informed.
