The bitter battle for sheriff and a 2-cent open space tax proposed for Lambertville have heated up this year’s voting.
By: Mae Rhine
A heated race for Hunterdon County sheriff as well as a controversial question on an open space tax in Lambertville are heating up Tuesday’s election.
Lambertville Police Director Bruce Cocuzza, 51, a Democrat, is battling Republican incumbent William Doyle, 61, of Clinton Township for sheriff. Mr. Cocuzza has come on strong in his campaign to wrest the position away from Sheriff Doyle, alleging on-the-job drinking and other official misconduct, pointing to several lawsuits pending against Mr. Doyle by former employees.
On the other hand, Mr. Doyle said his opponent has chosen "to take the low road in this campaign, relying on unproven lies and allegations as fact."
He said he has cut the budget and overtime costs and received nearly $560,000 in grant money since taking office.
Some Republicans publicly have turned their backs on Mr. Doyle, including Deborah Trout, a former employee of Mr. Doyle who filed a lawsuit against her former supervisor six years ago which still is pending, and ran against Mr. Doyle in the primary. After she lost, she endorsed Mr. Cocuzza.
In a press release, Ms. Trout said, "Bill Cocuzza showed his true mettle when he stood firm and saw to it that the Lambertville Police Department pursued charges against former U.S. Sen. Bob Torricelli for leaving the scene of an accident. He is the right man at the right time for the citizens of Hunterdon County."
Besides possibly losing their police director, Lambertville residents also have to decide whether they want to pay a 2-cent open space tax to preserve 22 acres on Music Mountain.
The parcel would be purchased over 20 years at a cost of $1.4 million at a 4.5 percent interest rate with no guarantee the city would receive any grant money from the state Green Acres program.
The wooded parcel is owned by Win and Pat Buchanan of Rosemont Avenue. No development plans have been submitted to the city.
The tax would equal about $52 a year for a homeowner whose property is assessed at the average of $260,127.
Officials say development of the land could lead to further flooding in the area of Lambertville Public School and adjacent recreation fields, an area already prone to flooding.
Because of the steep slopes involved, the site would hold about 27 townhouses if developed.
The three candidates running for two three-year terms on the City Council each have a unique view on the proposed tax.
Dorothy Anthes, 47, who won a spot on the Republican ballot with 10 write-in votes in the June primary, doesn’t feel the purchase is "a good investment."
She said seniors on fixed incomes would not be able to afford it.
Incumbent Democratic Councilman Steven Stegman, 53, is for the purchase, saying it "would insure environmental safety and protect a very sensitive part of the city from development."
He wants to see "stronger controls" to limit development in the city.
Newcomer Frank L. Kramer Jr., 71, a Democrat, said he feels the city made the right decision to put the question to voters.
Mrs. Anthes is a registered nurse.
Mr. Kramer, a longtime fireman, and his wife, Sue, a freelance writer for The Beacon, own H.K. & Son Memorials.
Mr. Stegman is deputy director of the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism.
In Stockton, Democratic challenger Michael P. Hagerty is trying to unseat one of the incumbents Democratic Councilman Joseph Skillodge and Republican Borough Council President Andrew Giannattasio.
Mr. Skillodge, 85, is the senior candidate in both experience and age. He has spent a total of 15 years on the council, 12 of them continuously with a previous three-year term before that.
Mr. Giannattasio, 35, is a partner in a residential and commercial construction business. He is wrapping up his first term on the council.
Mr. Hagerty, 44, owns a design business.
In West Amwell, a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent are vying for the two-year unexpired term vacated by Peter Buchsbaum, a Democrat who resigned in June to become a Superior Court judge.
Republican Mayor Gary Bleacher is running unopposed for a third term of three years on the Township Committee.
For the remainder of Mr. Buchsbaum’s unexpired term, Republican Thomas J. Molnar is squaring off against Democrat Ron Shapella and Independent Harold "Hal" Shute.
Mr. Shapella, 51, was appointed to the Township Committee to take Mr. Buchsbaum’s place and is trying to retain the seat in the coming election.
He is a public relations consultant and has worked for more than 25 years in public communications in journalism, public relations and governmental affairs.
Mr. Shute, 49, is self-employed as an investor and money manager. Previously, he worked as a design engineer and manager in the aerospace industry.
Mr. Molnar, 53, has been a teacher for 32 years and now works at the Burlington County Institute of Technology.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here’s where to vote: in Lambertville, 1st Ward and 2nd Ward, YMAC, Wilson Street; 3rd Ward, Columbia firehouse on North Union Street; in West Amwell, at the municipal building at 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road; and in Stockton, the firehouse on Mill Street.