Hopewell Valley voters make election choices Tuesday

For results of local contests Tuesday (Nov. 8), visit hopewellvalleynews.com

By Ruth Luse
   On Tuesday, Valley voters will go to the polls to help elect local and county officials, a new governor and members of the state Assembly.
   They also will cast ballots on two state public questions:
   • Constitutional amendment to establish the office of a lieutenant governor;
   • Constitutional amendment to expand uses of dedicated tax revenue to fund air pollution control and administrative costs of the underground storage tank program.
   Hopewell Township voters also will answer a third ballot question: Shall the mayor-council-administrator plan of the Optional Municipal Charter Law, providing for six council members elected for staggered terms at elections held in November, with the mayor elected directly by the voters at elections held in November, be adopted by the Township of Hopewell?
   If voters OK the change from the township committee form to the form recommended in an Aug. 1, 2005 report by the Hopewell Township Charter Study Commission, it would take effect in January 2007. A new mayor and six council members would be elected in November 2006.
   Polls will be open from 6 a.m.- 8 p.m. Tuesday.
   In Hopewell Township, where there is a race for two seats (three-year terms) on the Township Committee, the candidates are: Democrats — incumbent Vanessa Sandom of 9 Harbourton Ridge Drive and John T. Murphy Jr. of 9 New Road; Republicans — incumbent Arlene Kemp of 2370 Pennington Road and Robert Cacciabaudo of 1175 Bear Tavern Road.
   In Hopewell Borough, there are no contested races for two open seats (three-year terms) on Hopewell Borough Council, Candidates are incumbent Republicans Schuyler Morehouse of 1 E. Prospect St. and Robert Lewis of 114 W. Broad St. No Democrats filed in the June 2005 primary.
   In Pennington Borough, where no Republicans filed to run, the candidates for two three-year terms on council are incumbent Democrats James Lytle of 18 Laning Ave. and Edwin Weed Tucker of 92 Woolsey Court. Also running for a one-year unexpired term is incumbent Joseph Lawver of 304 Burd St. Mr. Lawver was appointed in December to take the place of Nancy Ross, who resigned. He is running unopposed to complete the remainder of Ms. Ross’ term, which expires Dec. 31, 2006.
   
Valley voters who did not attend the Oct. 27 League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Night can view the proceedings on Comcast channel 19 at the following times: Nov. 3 — 10 a.m., noon, 11 p.m.; Nov. 4 — 2 p.m. 8 a.m., 2 p.m.; Nov. 5 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 6 — 10 a.m., 4 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; and Nov. 7 — 2 a.m., 8 a.m., 2 p.m.
   On the Mercer County level, candidates for sheriff (three-year term) are incumbent Democrat Kevin C. Larkin of Hamilton Township and Republican Paul K. Lagana of Hamilton Township.
   For the job of Mercer County clerk (five-year term), candidates are Republican incumbent Catherine "Cathy" DiCostanzo of Hamilton Township and Democrat Paula Sollami Covello of Lawrenceville.
   For the two open Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders seats (three-year terms), the candidates are incumbent Democrats Tony Mack of Trenton and Lucy Walter of Ewing. Republican challengers are Joseph D’Angelo of Hamilton Township and Sylvester Bobby Bryant of Trenton.
   The two major party candidates for the office of governor (four-year term) are Democrat Jon S. Corzine of Hoboken and Republican Doug Forrester of Princeton Junction.
   Other candidates are: Wesley K. Bell (End Pay to Play) of Manahawkin, Hector L. Castillo (Education Not Corruption) of Paterson, Costantino Rozzo (Socialist Party USA) of Vineland, Matthew J. Thieke (The Green Party) of Maple Shade, Angela L. Lariscy (Socialist Workers Party) of Newark, Edward Forchion (Legalize Marijuana – G.R.I.P.) of Browns Mills, Jeffrey Pawlowski (Libertarian Party) of Parlin and Michael Latigona (ONE NEW JERSEY) of Marlton.
   For the New Jersey General Assembly (15th District), candidates for two two-year terms are incumbent Democrats Reed Gusciora of Princeton and Bonnie Watson Coleman of Ewing and Republicans Thomas Mavis of Princeton and Robert McCready of Trenton.
   
Before going to the polls Tuesday, voters can check out their sample ballots, which should come in the mail. They will give voters locations of polling places, public questions, offices to be voted on (including candidates’ names, district and municipality), and operating instructions for voting machines.
   In addition to giving voters a preview of the voting screen, the sample ballot verifies a voter’s registration. Residents who believe they are registered to vote, but have not received a sample ballot should contact the Mercer County Clerk’s Office at 989-6495 or 989-6497.