Voters selected their political parties’ representatives in primaries held in seven northern Burlington County towns.
By: William Wichert
The list of 22 candidates seeking municipal seats in the November election was finalized on Tuesday after voters selected their political parties’ representatives in primaries held in seven northern Burlington County towns.
Of the only three contested races, incumbent Republicans received their party’s nominations in Chesterfield and North Hanover townships, and a pair of newcomers beat out two fellow Republicans in New Hanover Township. All of the six Democratic primaries held were uncontested.
Chesterfield Mayor Larry Durr overtook challenger Edward Conway by over 100 votes, and North Hanover Township Committeeman Lou DeLorenzo, who has also served as township mayor, won over challenger Frank Preto by a vote of 254-60. New Hanover Republicans George Ivins Jr. and Paul Peterla won the nomination with over 120 votes each.
These candidates and the other primary winners from Bordentown Township, Fieldsboro, Florence Township, and Mansfield Township will go before voters in the Nov. 8 general election.
Below is a breakdown of the results from Tuesday’s primary election:
Bordentown Township
Looking to fill two three-year seats on the Township Committee, Republicans Bruce Hill and Robert Delaney, and Democrats Nick Renna and Joseph Luisi each won a nomination to run in November.
Mr. Hill, the current township mayor who is looking for a second term, received 311 votes, and Mr. Delaney received 312 votes. Mr. Renna came away with 119 votes and Mr. Luisi won with 124 votes.
The other available committee seat belongs to Republican Township Committeeman Jerry Boyer, who has decided not to run for re-election.
Chesterfield
In the race for one three-year Township Committee seat, Republican Larry Durr, who currently serves as the township mayor, won himself a place on the November ballot with 212 votes, compared to challenger Edward Conway’s 110 votes.
In the uncontested Democratic primary, Robert Rupinski received 41 votes. He will now face Mr. Durr in November.
Fieldsboro
Three incumbent Democrats ran unopposed for their party’s nomination to fill the four-year mayor’s seat and two three-year Borough Council seats.
Mayor Ed Tyler received 38 votes, and Councilmen David Hansell and Harry Brown each got 29 votes. Mr. Hansell is looking for his second term, and Mr. Brown, who was recently appointed to replace resigning Councilman Michael Carroll, is hoping to earn his first full term on the council.
There was no Republican primary.
Florence
In two uncontested primaries, three Democrats and three Republicans all received their party’s nomination to seek three four-year seats on the Township Council.
Incumbent Democratic Councilman Frank Baldorossi Jr. won 92 votes in his bid for a second term, and Democrats Leon Russo and James Angelini received 47 and 78 votes respectively in their attempt for first terms.
Looking for his third term, Republican Councilman Bruce Garganio received 165 votes, while his fellow Republican Councilman, Jerry Sandusky, earned 127 votes in his run for a fourth term. Republican newcomer Tom Stanuikynas received 92 votes.
Mansfield
Without any Democratic primary, the November ballot in Mansfield will include the names of Republicans Mayor Art Puglia and Kenneth Denti, both of whom are looking to fill two available three-year seats on the Township Committee.
Mayor Puglia, who received 406 votes, is seeking his second consecutive term, and Mr. Denti won 424 votes in his bid for a first term. Mr. Denti ran as an independent for a one-year unexpired term in last November’s election, but lost to Township Committeeman Bruce Waite.
Mr. Waite is not seeking re-election.
New Hanover
Democrat Steven Schenker ran unopposed for his party’s nomination, receiving 25 votes, but his opponents in November had to get past a contentious Republican primary for their chance to run for two three-year seats on the Township Committee.
Republicans George Ivins Jr. and Paul Peterla, who ran as a team, won the nomination with 121 and 128 votes respectively. Republican George C. Tiesmeyer received 44 votes and Republican Jason Manger received 55 votes.
The three candidates will now compete for the seats held by Republican Township Committeeman William Roscoe and William S. Kaytes. Mr. Roscoe is not seeking re-election, but Mr. Kaytes’ was disqualified from the Republican primary after his nominating petition was ruled invalid.
North Hanover
The November battle over one three-year seat on the Township Committee will now be between two former township mayors.
Democrat John Kocubinski, who lost his re-election bid in November 2003, ran unopposed in the primary to receive his party’s nomination with 102 votes.
His opponent will be Republican Township Committeeman Lou DeLorenzo who beat challenger Frank Preto by a margin of 254-60. Mr. DeLorenzo, who served as mayor last year, is seeking his second term.