Voters face questions, candidate choices Tuesday

In Manville, two Borough Council seats will be filled.

By: Melissa Edmond
   Manville residents can cast their votes between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday for the two open seats on the Borough Council and a variety of other state and county offices.
   The election includes longtime Borough Council incumbents Tom Weiss and Senga Allan, both Democrats, and Republicans Kathy Quick and Stephen Szabo. The two seats available are both for three-year terms.
   Also on the ballot will be the race for the New Jersey governor’s seat. Voters will pick from a field that includes Democrat Jon Corzine, Republican Doug Forrester and eight third party candidates, including Socialist Workers Party candidate Angela Lariscy, Green Party candidate Matthew Thieke, Libertarian Jeffrey Pawlowski and Balance Budget Party candidate Wesley Bell.
   In the race for the 16th District Assemblyman seats, with Republican Christopher "Kip" Bateman is running for his seventh consecutive two-year term and Peter Biondi, also Republican, running for his fifth. The two incumbents are being taken on by a pair of political newcomers, Democrats Charles Eader and Michael Goldberg, in a district that is solidly Republican.
   The ballot includes races for county surrogate, two seats on the county Board of Chosen Freeholders, and questions on establishing the post of lieutenant governor, use existing tax funds for air pollution control, and to allow the county to use a portion of open space tax funds to improve parks and recreation areas.
   Check the Web site, www.manvillenews.com, for results Tuesday.
   Ms. Quick, a 25-year South Bridge Street resident, works as a deputy clerk for the county and is a former member of the Board of Education and zoning board chairwoman.
   Her running mate, Mr. Szabo, is a 42-year resident of Louise Drive. He is currently retired and has been involved with Sacred Heart Church, the church’s Knights of Columbus, and the Manville Youth Athletic League.
   The incumbents, Ms. Allan and Mr. Weiss, are both seeking re-election to their fourth consecutive terms.
   Mr. Weiss is a 17-year resident of South 19th Avenue. He has served on the Planning Board since 1993 and is chairman of the borough’s Finance Committee.
   Ms. Allan, is a 29-year resident of Manville. She has served as chairwoman of the Borough Council Finance Committee for three years; and of the Personnel Committee for two years, two years leading the Public Safety Committee, and a two-year stint as the chairwoman of the Public Works Committee.
   The polling locations include:
   District 1: Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, 100 North 13th Ave. (library).
   Districts 2 and 3: Firehouse No. 3, Corner North Eighth Avenue and Louis Street.
   Districts 4, 5, 6, 7: V.F.W., Main Hall, 600 Washington Ave.
   District 8: Manville Recreation Center, 60 South Weiss St. (between Huff Avenue and Railroad Bridge.)
   Districts 9 and 10: Weston Elementary School, Newark Avenue.
   Residents with questions can contact the clerk’s office at 725-9478.