Incumbent Hightstown Democrat Eugene Sarafin garnered only 8 percent of the vote in his primary bid.
By: Sarah Winkelman
HIGHTSTOWN Incumbents Lawrence Quattrone and Dave Schneider defeated fellow incumbent Eugene Sarafin by a wide margin Tuesday in the borough’s Democratic primary election.
Mr. Quattrone and Mr. Schneider will face GOP candidates Andrew Keller and Arthur Wilton in the November general election for two, three-year seats on the Borough Council. Mr. Keller and Mr. Wilton ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Mr. Quattrone and Mr. Schneider received 195 and 177 votes respectively. Mr. Sarafin came away with only 31 votes. Mr. Sarafin has been serving the remainder of former Councilman Dan Buriak’s unexpired term since Mr. Buriak stepped down in November.
"I’m very pleased with the results," Mr. Schneider said Wednesday. "I hope that between now and November we (he and Mr. Quattrone) can educate the voters in Hightstown on our positions. I believe in the last two-and-a-half years I’ve spent on the council I’ve made the right decisions and done what I can to keep borough expenses in line. I believe Mr. Quattrone and I have been leading the borough in the right direction because we all, including Walter Sikorski, have the same basic goals of keeping Hightstown prices from skyrocketing. In fact, we would like to see prices go down and see savings returned to the residents."
In the race for Democratic nominee for the remaining year of the unexpired term, Walter Sikorski beat Matthew Cuddy, 124 votes to 89 votes, to face GOP candidate Anne Blake in the November election. Ms. Blake ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
"I know Mr. Sikorski is an active citizen of Hightstown and that he has always remained on top of the current issues," Mr. Schneider said. "He attends borough meetings and I think he would be a good addition to the council. I think he could add to the progress we’ve been making and the changes we are starting to see."
In response to the election in November, Mr. Schneider said he believes it will be a good race.
"Of course I hope we win," he said. "I’m not all that familiar with the Republican policies and ideas on local issues."
Mr. Schneider said he was not really surprised by the low totals for Mr. Sarafin.
"He didn’t really attempt to espouse the popular beliefs and positions in town," Mr. Schneider said. "He burned a lot of bridges and didn’t really make an effort to campaign. I don’t think he did a lot to maintain his council seat."
Mr. Sarafin’s abrupt and often profane nature have led many to question why the council appointed him to fill Mr. Buriak’s seat. This year, he has been chastised by Catholic organizations for comments many viewed as insulting to Catholics and he lost favor with fellow council members, partially due to an April Fools joke gone awry.
Mr. Schneider said that he hopes Mr. Cuddy continues to play a part in the local government despite his loss in Tuesday’s primary.
"Mr. Cuddy came into the process late and being new to the area meant that he didn’t have as much political connection," Mr. Schneider said on Wednesday. "He lacked knowledge of the issues in town, but I know that has changed. He didn’t really have the time he needed to pull off the primary election and get the win, but he’s very knowledgeable and we need different people with differing ideas. The more heads the better. I hope he’s not discouraged by last night’s loss and continues to play an active role in our government."
Mr. Quattrone said he is "pretty happy with the results" of Tuesday’s primary.
"I’m glad it turned out like it did," he said. "I think the Democrats have a good slate. I want to thank the voters for coming out in the rain."
When asked about his goals for the borough and his plans for campaigning in the next few months, Mr. Quattrone said he would "continue to support the need for a Constitutional Convention and keep an eye on the tax numbers."
"I’m going to continue to do good work," he said. "That’s all I can do."
He said he is very excited about running and thinks there is a good chance the Democrats can sweep the November election.
"I encourage anyone Democrat, Republican or Independent with the time and interest in government to please come out and run in the elections," Mr. Quattrone said Wednesday. "In a small town such as Hightstown we need all the good people we can get. When I’m in the meetings I’m not a Democrat, I’m a council member, and I’m looking out for the best interest of the citizens of Hightstown."
The Hightstown Democratic Club supported Mr. Sikorski for the June primary. Mr. Quattrone, a member of the organization, said in a letter to the editor last week that he personally supported Mr. Cuddy for the primary election.
"I was excited about Mr. Cuddy’s education," Mr. Quattrone said. "He has a lot to offer the council and I would love to see him on the council sometime in the future. Young blood is always exciting. The way people think today is different from us old-timers. It’s good to have fresh thinking."
Mr. Quattrone said that there are a lot of younger people moving into the community and that their ideas and values should be recognized and reflected on the council.
"I hope Matt (Cuddy) will become a member of the Democratic Club," he said. "I really think he could bring something new to the council."
Mr. Cuddy said Wednesday that he was "naturally disappointed" by his loss in Tuesday’s primaries.
"I really wanted the job," he said. "I knew running was an uphill battle because Walt (Sikorski) is so well-known around town."
Mr. Cuddy said he is happy with the 89 votes he got in the election because "those 89 people were people we found and convinced to vote for me. I think it’s a great start and a good first shot."
He said he would continue to take an active role in politics by attending Borough Council meetings and writing letters to the editors of local newspapers. He was unsure when next he would run for local government.
"I think the one-year (unexpired) term was a good introduction into politics," he said. "I think it would have been a good fit."
Mr. Cuddy said there were community development projects he is interested in pursuing as a member of the public and that the issues in his platform remain part of his goal for Hightstown.
"Who knows what I can do from the outside, as a citizen?" he said.
It appeared Mr. Sikorski could not be happier with the results of Tuesday’s primary, as he won the Democratic nod in the race for the one-year unexpired council term.
"I’m ecstatic about the confidence the Democratic voters in all four voting districts placed in my candidacy," he said Wednesday.
"As the son of a Polish immigrant who came to America via Ellis Island in 1912, it somewhat saddens me that my father is not here to share in my victory," he said. "I wish to reassure those who oppose me of my loyalty and devotion to Hightstown, where I have lived my entire life. I am looking forward to a spirited campaign in the fall."
Mr. Sarafin, who will finish out the next six months of the unexpired term vacated by Mr. Buriak last November, said he is happy with the way the primary played out.
"The primary election Tuesday night was wonderful," Mr. Sarafin said Wednesday. "I’m glad Walter (Sikorski) and Mr. Quattrone and Mr. Schneider will be running in November. I don’t really want to serve on the council once the last six months (of the unexpired term) are up. It’s hard to serve on a council when your views are different from everyone else’s."
Mr. Sarafin said if he had been chosen in the primaries, he would not have run for office in the November general election.
"I don’t think you can run if you stand for principles that the other politicians don’t stand for. I believe there are things that need to be done, but not many other people can understand where I’m coming from. I’m tired of people politicking for the views of a few people."

