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Petitioner Committee

Leadership Team

Ben Finkelstein | Willa Inlender | Remi Meehan | Grace Strom Power 

Advisory Team

Doreen Garelick | Ajay Kaisth | Daniela Kaisth | Ernest Mathews | Charmi Patel-Peña | Andrea Pitluk | Paul Pitluk

James Appenzeller

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Jim Appenzeller grew up in southern New Jersey, Mays Landing, and graduated from Rutgers University. He attended graduate school in California and returned to New Jersey in 2009.

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"Seeing the very low turnout for our local elections and the general exclusionary tone of conversation around local issues I felt something needed to change in order to have a collaborative body that truly represents all members of our community."  - Jim Appenzeller

 

Work Experience and Community

Jim has over 30 years of transferable experience in leading, designing, architecting, developing, testing, deploying, maintaining, and improving data pipelines while ensuring high-quality system delivery through in-depth design and code reviews. He possesses a proven track record of consistently exceeding expectations while managing end-to-end data processing activities using innovative traditional and distributed systems.

 

Jim’s software development company, A & S Technologies, designs online systems for the Coast Guard and local businesses. He has lectured extensively at Rutgers University and since 2023, Jim has been the team technical lead for the NJ Department of Children and Families.

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Jim’s dedication and priorities include his community commitments to coach his children’s soccer teams, and his ongoing assistance to the Girl Scout sponsored robotics teams.   

Jim is a lifelong learner and plans to pursue his Ph.D. in Computer Science with a dissertation on Quantum Machine Learning.

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Education

  • B.A. Physics – Minor: Computer Science – concentration, Physical Simulation & Modeling, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

  • M.S. Computer Science, California State University – Eastbay, Hayward, CA

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Henry Hsiao

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Henry Hsiao is the youngest member of the Petitioner's Committee, having graduated from WW-P High School North in 2022.

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"In order to effect change, we must be civically engaged. And when something doesn't seem right or demands improvement—in our local community, our nation, on our planet—we all should find ways to express our concerns. I'm proud, as an Asian American, of West Windsor's exuberant diversity, but I believe that greater representation is needed on the Council to reflect both our constituency and the Township's growing population. Moreover, our local elections, often obscure yet highly consequential, should show a candidate's party distinction to help inform voters." - Henry Hsiao

 

Education

  • Student at Princeton University, pursuing an A.B. degree in Politics, with minors in German and Music, 2022-2026

 

Experience and Civic Service

  • Member of West Windsor's Human Relations Council, mayoral appointment with Township Council approval (2021)

  • West Windsor Municipal Democratic Committee Delegate for District 4 (elected June 2024)

  • Interned for State Senator Andrew Zwicker (LD-16) and with former State Assemblyman (now-County Executive) Dan Benson (LD-14)

  • Summer internship at the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

 

Henry's governmental and policy interests run deep, as he focuses on New Jersey politics, constitutional law, Congress, the administrative state, the federal judiciary, public transit, and urban/suburban planning. He is equally fascinated with Asian American history and loves classical music, having spent three years in Austria with the Vienna Boys Choir. In his spare time, Henry sings with the Princeton Glee Club and Chamber Choir, and writes for The Daily Princetonian, for which he currently chairs the 148th Editorial Board. He has published op-eds, essays, and letters in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Star-Ledger/NJ.com.

Dale Lessne

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Dale Lessne and her husband have resided in West Windsor since 1986.  Their two children  attended WWP Schools from kindergarten through high school.  Dale was an active member of the Maurice Hawk School PTA when her children were in elementary school.  The Lessne family are long-time members of Congregation Beth Chaim.  During their 38 years in West Windsor, they have witnessed significant changes in the Township’s demographics and land development. 

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“West Windsor needs to promote participation in Township elections to improve the currently low voter turnout.  I firmly believe that a change to a partisan government will improve voter interest by providing the information voters need to select leaders whose views align with their own.”  - Dale Lessne

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Experience and Public Service

Dale practiced most of her legal career in public service, having served as a Deputy Attorney General in the NJ Attorney General’s Office for over 30 years.  She represented several State agencies, including NJ Department of Transportation, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, NJ Transit and NJ Schools Development Authority on important public issues. 

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Dale is employed as Counsel in the West Windsor law firm, Hill Wallack LLP, where she continues to represent State agencies in eminent domain matters in addition to representing private property owners in eminent domain and real estate tax appeals.  As a trained mediator, she has been a court-appointed mediator in civil cases over the years.

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Perspective on West Windsor

​West Windsor offers a variety of housing options to its constituency.  These include rental apartments, condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes to satisfy the housing needs of the Township’s ever-expanding diverse residents.  West Windsor boasts a senior housing complex, a senior center and two, soon-to-be three, adult communities to address the needs of its senior citizens.  Although inclusivity is important, it must be balanced in policymaking decisions regarding future development,  Dale wants to make sure that West Windsor does not lose sight of what makes it uniquely attractive to current and prospective residents. 

 

The Township’s development goals and needs must be weighed against the protection of existing farmland and green spaces.  Its location, straddling Route 1, a major State highway, presents issues to be considered in evaluating proposed development against preserving the open spaces that beautify West Windsor.

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Dale believes that West Windsor needs to make some changes to encourage civic engagement.  Changing to a partisan form of election will bring the Township in line with surrounding townships, including Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence, Plainsboro, and Princeton.  This form of election will enable West Windsor residents to make informed decisions when casting their vote for their municipal leaders.   The time for West Windsor to have a transparent electoral process is long overdue.  A partisan election will allow for more representation and voices to be heard. West Windsor deserves this change.

 

Education and Bar Admissions

  • B.S. degree from the University of Maryland

  • J.D. degree from Rutgers University Law School – Newark.

  • Member, New Jersey & New York Bars

  • Admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court,

  • US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit & US District Court, NJ

Sweekrutha Shankar

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Sweekrutha “Swee” Shankar is a West Windsor native. She returned to her hometown in 2020, with her spouse, to raise their family. She is the proud mother of a seven-month-old baby boy.

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“Life is so busy and it’s difficult to find time to follow local politics. Complaining about limited representation and not knowing who to cast a vote for in township elections is unproductive. West Windsor needs to join the rest of the country and show party affiliations to help guide the voters on the ballot.” - Swee Shankar

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Swee is Founder and Partner at Shankar Ninan & Co. LLP where she leads a robust law practice that specializes in immigration law with a team of paraprofessionals.

 

Education – Honors – Notable Publications 

  • J.D., Touro College Law Center

  • B.S., cum laude, Finance, Temple University

  • New York Metro SuperLawyers Rising Stars (2018-24)

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Publications · Why Employers May Want to Identify Candidates Now to Beat the H-1b Lottery Cap, Forbes.com (January 2018). · Immigration Alert: The Presidential Proclamation temporarily curbing immigration in light of COVID-19 · Immigration Alert: IT'S BACK!!! USCIS resumes premium processing of I-129 and I-140

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Work Philosophy and Early History

​Swee’s mission is to simplify complex immigration laws for her corporate and individual clients. She wants to ensure that all her clients feel heard and thrive in the U.S. She assists her corporate clients comply with the confusing, technical, and multifaceted requirements of U.S. immigration law, helping them navigate the complicated process with its ever-changing policies and procedures. She sees her role as a trusted guide for her clients and their families so they can create lives they love in the United States.

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Swee’s passion for Immigration and Nationality law developed early. In high school she worked as a document clerk which fueled her interest to become an immigration law attorney.  Before founding Shankar Ninan & Co., she was a paralegal, law clerk, and an associate at Simin H. Syed, P.C.

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Clients

Swee assists companies across a diverse cross-section of industries, including finance, pharmaceutical, IT, and retail – seeking to hire foreign professionals and skilled workers to maximize their competitiveness, or to transfer personnel to company branches in the United States. She obtains H1Bs, TN, L, E-3, O-1, P-3, R-1 visas, green cards, and naturalization, among other visa types for her clients. She also advises on U.S. EB-5 investor visa applications.

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Swee navigates the evolving fields of Immigration and Nationality law, guiding the corporations she serves with practical immigration law advice and tremendous empathy.

 

In addition to corporate clients, Swee maintains an individual immigration practice, representing individuals in family-based immigration and naturalization matters.

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Swee is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the South Asian Bar Association of New York

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Bar and Court Admissions

  • New York

  • New Jersey

  • U.S. District Court for District of New Jersey

 

Professional Memberships

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association

  • ITServe Alliance

  • South Asian Bar Association of New York

  • New York State Bar Association

Yingchao "YZ" Zhang

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Yingchao “YZ” Zhang, with his wife and family have been integral members of the community of West Windsor since 2000.

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"Local political decisions have a significant impact on critical policies. This referendum will give the voters of West Windsor a greater voice in township governmental policymaking. It will provide residents with the necessary clarity on the ballot, helping them make informed decisions that align with their political preferences. Ensuring transparency in elections is essential for a healthy democracy." – YZ Zhang

 

Experience and Service

​With deep roots in the community, fortified by a desire to serve, YZ has extended himself in leadership roles over the decades to support the West Windsor Township, Mercer County and New Jersey

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  • West Windsor Councilman

  • Board Member of the WW-P School District

  • Co-Founder and Co-President of United Chinese Americans – NJ Chapter

  • President of the Central Jersey Chinese American Association

  • Board Chair for Huaxia Plainsboro Chinese School

  • Member of the advisory board of the West Windsor Arts Council

  • Democratic State Committeeman

  • Sergeant at Arms for the Mercer County Democratic Committee

 

YZ has demonstrated exceptional business acumen over the decades, transitioning seamlessly from physics research to computer technology. As COO and Head of Global Solutioning at Singularity Systems Inc. (DBA: AYR, Inc.), YZ established the AI technology company in West Windsor to drive business growth in the township. His unwavering commitment to the community, County, and State reflects his dedication to fostering local economic development and innovation. Through strategic vision and leadership, YZ continues to prioritize and uplift the West Windsor area, ensuring its prosperity and technological advancement.

 

Education

  • B.S. University of Science and Technology of China

  • Ph.D. SUNY Stony Brook, high-energy nuclear physics

  • Post-doc Columbia University

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