By: Al Wicklund
MONROE Six candidates vying for three Township Council seats in the Nov. 6 election will give their positions on Monroe issues and respond to questions from voters in a League of Women Voters of Monroe Township candidates’ night Thursday, Oct. 18.
The candidates will be heard, starting at 7:30 p.m., in the Lecture Hall of Monroe Township High School.
"Invitations have been sent to all six candidates," Rita Gordon of the league said Tuesday.
On the Nov. 6 ballot, the candidates will be running in ward contests.
In the First Ward, Republican Mary Margiotta is running against Henry Miller, a Democratic incumbent.
Other pairings are Democrat Jerry Tamburro and Republican Ken Chiarella in the Second Ward and Audrey Cornish for the Republicans and incumbent Joanne Connolly, the Democratic candidate, in the Third Ward.
Ms. Gordon said Dorothy Rydell, an impartial, trained league moderator, will conduct the discussion and question sessions. Ms. Rydell is a member of the Monroe chapter of the league.
"Voting in elections is one of the most important responsibilities of an informed citizen. Candidates’ positions on issues determine whom we should support in an election because the candidates, in turn, will affect those issues when they vote in their elected positions.
"So, residents of Monroe should come out Thursday, listen to the candidates, ask their questions and, above all, vote," Ms. Gordon said.
She added that the League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government.
The Monroe league also will hold a candidates’ night for the 14th District state Assembly and Senate candidates, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, at Monroe Township High School.
The 14th District includes Monroe and Jamesburg.
Candidates scheduled to appear are Republican incumbent Peter Inverso and Democratic challenger Sam Plumeri contesting for the Senate seat and Democratic incumbents Linda Greenstein and Gary Guear and Republican challengers Paul Kramer and Barbara Wright in the Assembly race.

