Londensky, Wisniewski win
in South River council race
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
SOUTH RIVER — Borough residents elected a split ticket of one Democrat and one Republican in Tuesday’s election for two seats on the Borough Council.
Republican incumbent Arthur Londen-sky was re-elected alongside Democratic newcomer Robert Wisniewski, having received 1,528 and 1,474 vote, respectively.
Londensky’s running mate and fellow incumbent, Telemahos Koukourdelis, lost by a narrow margin with 1,441 votes. Wisniewski’s running mate, Eric Acs, received 1,285 votes.
Out of 7,339 registered voters in the borough, 41.5 percent cast ballots Tuesday.
The absentee ballots were not included in the vote tallies.
Londensky, 55, will return to the council for his first full three-year term after being appointed and then elected to a vacant seat. He resides on Schack Avenue with his wife, Andrea, and has one daughter, Elyssa.
Londensky works as the fire protection sub-code official for South Brunswick, Helmetta and Rocky Hill, and is the president of South River Engine Company No. 1. He is the current chairman of the Borough Council’s Human Services Committee and Cable Advisory Board, and also works as the station manager for South River TV 35. He is past chairman of the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
"I thank the voters for returning me for another three years," Londensky said Wednesday, adding that he looks forward to finishing projects he started during his last term.
Londensky said that his running mate, Koukourdelis, was a good councilman and that he is sorry his vote tally fell short in the election.
Wisniewski, 62, is a retired borough police officer and resides on Leonardine Avenue with his wife of 40 years. He served in the U.S. Navy and has volunteered for the borough’s fire department for 35 years.
Wisniewski, Acs and Koukourdelis could not be reached for comment.
Londensky and Koukourdelis both stood beside the record of their party during the campaign season. They stated that they believe the Democrats have done a good job of helping to relieve the burden on borough taxpayers.
During the period leading up to the election, the Republicans both said the borough needs new ideas on the council from an opposing party since the council was previously all Democrats.
When asked about the role of partisanship in local elections and how it has affected issues in the borough, Londensky said that, while he is proud to be a Democrat, he serves without regard to partisanship. Koukourdelis said that he believes in a two-party system because it allows voters to review his record when determining whether to vote for him again.
Acs and Wisniewski both said that the one-party rule that has existed on the council has diminished the accountability of the council members. Acs said the Democratic council governs the borough without fear of opposition.

