Polls close at 8 p.m. tonight.
By: Jennifer Potash
Voters in The Packet readership area go to the polls today to choose candidates in local, county and state-wide elections.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. around the state.
Princeton Borough
Two council seats, each for three-year terms, are up for grabs in the borough. Incumbents Roger Martindell and Joseph O’Neill seek to keep the Borough Council all Democratic. Challengers are Michael Carnevale, a Republican, and Steven Abt, an independent and Princeton University student.
Princeton Township
Six candidates are vying for the two seats on the Township Committee.
Incumbent Mayor Phyllis Marchand and newcomer Casey Hegener are running on the Democratic ticket. Republicans in the race are Michael Bonotto, a 24-year member of the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, and Robert Willis, a retired international banker. Jeffrey Gorman, who owns a computer company, and Emily Cook, a clinical social worker, are running under the Green Party banner.
West Windsor
Incumbent Rae Roeder, president of the Communication Workers of American Local 1033 union, is squaring off against John Sabino, vice president of wealth management services for Merrill Lynch.
The two candidates are vying for the remaining 15 months of the council seat vacated by former Councilman Shing-Fu Hsueh when he became mayor in July.
Plainsboro
The two incumbent Democrats seeking re-election to the Township Committee, Ed Yates and Michael Weaver, are uncontested in their bids. The two terms are for three years.
Montgomery
Republican Mark Caliguire, appointed in August to replace Committeewoman Ali Henkel, and Democrat Karen Wintress are competing for a one-year term filling the seat vacated by Jim Irish in January and currently held by Democrat Louise Wilson.
Ms. Wilson and fellow Democrat Jennifer Wall are running against Fred Gladstone and Paul Kadri for the two vacant seats with three-year terms.
Rocky Hill
Republican incumbents Richard Batchelder and Martin Englebrecht will face off against Democratic challenger Greg Maertz. Two, three-year terms are available.
Mercer County Surrogate
Diane Gerofsky, the incumbent Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican Victoria Plumeri for a five-year term.
Mercer County Freeholder
Four candidates are competing for the two seats on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Each seat is for a three-year term. The Democratic slate comprises incumbents Anthony Carabelli of Trenton and Keith Hamilton of Hamilton. The Republican challengers are Chris Chianese of Hamilton and Ira Marks of Lawrence.
Somerset County Sheriff
Democrat Dick Voorhees, the current Somerset County undersheriff, is running against Republican Frank Provenzo. The term of office is four years.
Somerset County Freeholder
Incumbent Republican Denise Coyle of Bernards Township is facing a challenge by Democrat Dennis Sullivan of Somerville. The term of office is three years.
Middlesex County Sheriff
Joseph C. Spicuzzo, the incumbent Democrat, is facing a challenge by Republican Tom Owen. The term of office is four years.
Middlesex County Freeholder
Six candidates are battling for three seats on the board. The office has a term of three years.
Democratic incumbents Jane Z. Brady of Perth Amboy, Stephen "Pete" Dalina of Woodbridge and Christopher Rafano of South River face a challenge from Republicans Tina Martins-Cruz of South River, Tracy Ford of New Brunswick and Pradip "Peter" Kothari of Woodbridge.
14th Legislative District
The district includes West Windsor and Plainsboro.
Republican incumbent Peter Inverso of Hamilton is seeking to fend off a challenge by Mercer County Sheriff Sam Plumeri of Hamilton for this district’s Senate seat.
Democrats Linda Greenstein of Plainsboro and Gary Guear of Hamilton, the incumbents, face Republicans Barbara Wright of Plainsboro and Paul Kramer of Hamilton for the two Assembly seats.
15th Legislative District
The district includes Princeton Borough and Princeton Township.
Democratic incumbent Senator Shirley Turner of Lawrence is challenged by Republican Norbert Donelly of Lawrence and Libertarian Tom Abrams, a Princeton Township resident.
In the race for the two Assembly seats, incumbents Reed Gusciora of Princeton Borough and Bonnie Watson-Coleman of Ewing will face the Republican slate comprised of Tom Dallessio of Hopewell Borough and Rosanna Dovgala of Ewing. Lawrence resident Chris Toto of the Libertarian Party is also in the race.
16th Legislative District
The district includes Montgomery and Rocky Hill.
Walter Kavanaugh, the incumbent Republican from Somerville, faces a challenge by Democrat Daniel Wartenberg of the Skillman section of Montgomery.
Republicans Christopher "Kip" Bateman of Neshanic Station and Peter J. Biondi of Hillsborough are vying for re-election against Democrats John Rooney of Bridgewater and Jim Foohey of Raritan.
Governor
Republican Bret Schundler of Jersey City and Democrat Jim McGreevey of Woodbridge are battling to become the state’s next governor.
State Sen. Bill Schulter of Pennington is waging an independent bid.
Other candidates in the race are: Michael W. Koontz, New Jersey Conservative Party; Mark Edgerton, Libertarian; George Watson, Free New Jersey; Jerry L. Coleman, Green Party; Kari Sachs, Socialist Workers Party, and Constantino Rozzo, Socialist Party USA.