Residents asked for approval of budgets, the purchase of a new fire engine and to elect commissioners.
By: Leon Tovey
Voters will be faced with contested fire commission elections in two of Monroe’s three fire districts and in Jamesburg, where two candidates are vying to fill an unexpired term, in the Feb. 19 fire elections.
Voters also will decide whether to approve fire budgets for the three Monroe districts and in Jamesburg. Information on the budgets was not available by The Cranbury Press’s Thursday afternoon deadline.
Jamesburg residents also will be asked to approve the purchase of a new fire engine.
In Jamesburg, incumbents Margaret Linke and Thomas Taylor will run unopposed for another, three-year term, while Nancy J. Linke of Lincoln Avenue and Marrianne Taylor of Sherman Avenue will run to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Pat Connelly. Mr. Connelly had one year left in his term.
Ms. Linke serves as secretary for the Jamesburg Board of Fire Commissioners. She has served on the board since 1982.
Mr. Taylor serves as president of the Board of Commissioners. He has served one term.
In Monroe’s Fire District 1, Joe Leatherwood and Raymond Perry Sr. will each run for another, three-year term. They will face Thomas P. Bartley of Spotswood-Englishtown Road and Charles M. DiPierro of Spotswood-Gravel Hill Road.
Mr. Leatherwood, who lives on Robin Lane, serves as assistant clerk and assistant treasurer of the District 1 Board of Commissioners. He was appointed in June 2004 to complete the unexpired term of Robert F. Kenny.
Mr. Perry, who lives on 13th Street, serves as the clerk for the commissioners. He was elected to his first, three-year term as a write-in candidate in 2002.
In Monroe Fire District 2, incumbent commissioners Martin Berkowitz and Lawrence Reisch will run unopposed for three-year terms.
Mr. Berkowitz, who lives on Vernon Road in Clearbrook, serves as secretary of the District 2 Board of Commissioners. He has already served three terms on the board.
Mr. Reisch, who lives on Dolley Madison Road in Concordia, serves as treasurer and insurance officer for the District 2 Board of Commissioners. He has served two terms on the board.
In Monroe Fire District 3, first term incumbents Peter Lumia and Ernest B. Turp will run for second, three-year terms against Leslie H. Altkin of Birmingham Lane in Greenbriar at Whittingham and Carmine Ragucci of Hoffman Road.
Mr. Lumia, who lives on Yale Way, currently serves as chairman of the District 3 Board of Commissioners.
Mr. Turp, who lives on Old Nassau Road, currently serves as vice chairman of the District 3 Board of Commissioners.

