Voters to get say on candidates

Three Monroe council seats, two Jamesburg council seats up for grabs in Tuesday’s general election.

By: Leon Tovey
   Races for governor and the local councils are on the ballot next week.
   Voters in Monroe will select three council members and voters in Jamesburg will select two council members in Tuesday’s general election.
   Voters will also cast votes for governor, two General Assembly seats, two Middlesex County freeholders and county clerk. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
   In Monroe, five candidates are running for four-year terms in the three ward seats on the Township Council. Incumbent Democrat Henry Miller is running unopposed for the Ward 1 seat; incumbent Democrat Gerald Tamburro is running against Republican Steve Williams in Ward 2; and incumbent Democrat Joanne Connolly is running against Republican Carlos Lopez in Ward 3.
   In Jamesburg, incumbent Democrats Otto Kostbar and Carlos Morales, and former Republican Councilman Adam Bushman are running for two seats on the Borough Council. Both seats have three-year terms.
   On Tuesday, voters will also elect a new governor, who will serve for four years. On the ballot is Democrat Jon Corzine, Republican Doug Forrester, Constantino Rozzo of the Socialist Party, Angela Lariscy of the Socialist Workers Party, Hector Castillo for Education not Corruption, Wesley Bell of the Cut Waste Party, Matthew Thieke of the Green Party, Jeffrey Pawlowski of the Libertarian Party, Michael Latigona of One New Jersey and Edward Forchion of the Legalize Marijuana Party.
   In the race for the two open Assembly seats for the 14th Legislative District, incumbent Republican Bill Baroni, Democrat Daniel Benson, incumbent Democrat Linda Greenstein, Libertarian William Hunsicker, Republican Michael Paquette and Libertarian Jason Scheurer are running for two-year terms.
   For the five-year-term county clerk position, incumbent Democrat Elaine Flynn will face Republican Joseph Sinagra.
   Four candidates for the two, three-year terms on the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders also will be on the ballot. Incumbent Democrats David Crabiel and Camille Fernicola are running for re-election against Republicans Jay Boxwell Jr. and Andrew Tidd.
   Voters will also be asked to decide on two constitutional amendments. The first question would establish the office of lieutenant governor. If voters approve the amendment on Tuesday, a lieutenant governor would run with the governor during the next general election in 2009. Candidates for lieutenant governor would run on joint tickets with gubernatorial candidates and serve a four-year term. The lieutenant governor would serve as acting governor if necessary and would also perform duties required by the governor.
   Citizens will vote on a constitutional amendment that would expand the use of revenues authorized under the Corporation Business Tax to provide grants for the cost of air pollution control equipment. The equipment would reduce emissions from diesel-powered engines.
   Voters from Jamesburg’s four voting districts can cast their ballots at Borough Hall from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
   Monroe voters can cast their votes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following polling places:
   — Ward 1, Districts 1, 11, 12: Applegarth School;
   — Ward 1, Districts 2, 3, 4, 5: Rossmoor Clubhouse;
   — Ward 1, Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: Clearbrook Cultural Center;
   — Ward 1, District 13: The Ponds Clubhouse;
   — Ward 2, District 1; Ward 3, Districts 3, 4, 9: Woodland School;
   — Ward 2, District 2; Ward 3, Districts 6, 8: Brookside School;
   — Ward 2, Districts 3, 9, 11, 12: Whittingham Town Center;
   — Ward 2, District 4: Monroe Township Library;
   — Ward 2, Districts 5, 6, 7, 8: Concordia;
   — Ward 2, District 10: Applegarth Firehouse;
   — Ward 3, District 1, 3: Monroe First Aid Building;
   — Ward 3, Districts 2, 5, 7: Monroe Township Community Center.