ELECTION RESULTS
By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN Two newcomers to both politics and the borough surprised their opponents and themselves and created an all-Democrat Borough Council by virtue of their victory in Tuesday’s election.
Constance Harinxma, a 45-year-old social worker, was the top vote-getter with 701 votes and running mate Ryan Rosenberg, a 29-year-old graphic designer, garnered 693. That compared to 664 votes for longtime Councilwoman Nancy Walker Laudenberger and 540 for Ron Sackowitz, who had been appointed to council in February.
Fighting laryngitis, Ms. Harinxma addressed supporters at a party at the home of campaign manager and Councilman David Schneider.
"Going into today I really didn’t know what would happen," she said. "I think this speaks to the fact that Hightstown is changing and people want some new ideas."
Ms. Harinxma, who has lived in the borough only three years, had campaigned on a promise to make the borough more "family friendly," and specifically pointed to a need for more recreation programs for youth.
"I was surprised," admitted Mr. Rosenberg, who’s lived in the borough less than three years. "Everything in the process was new to us. It’s hard to determine what made the difference. …Young people are moving into town and they want a voice that perhaps isn’t there now."
Mr. Schneider had some very specific ideas of some of the factors that contributed to the victory.
"Our Democratic counterparts, including in the race for governor, did very strong numbers and that definitely helped our candidates," he said, adding that hard campaigning also had paid off.
Unofficial results showed borough voters giving Republican Doug Forrester 550 votes to 711 for Democrat Jon Corzine, who was elected Tuesday night as the new governor of New Jersey.
Ms. Walker Laudenberger shook her head and leaned against a wall in Mayor Bob Patten’s home, apparently stunned by the local results.
"I am very disappointed but I worked hard and I did my best," said the 28-year borough resident who had sought her third full three-year term on council. "The dynamics of the community are changing. People like change, I suppose."
"This was my first shot at this and I’m kind of surprised at the partisanship displayed," said Mr. Sackowitz, a 10-year borough resident who works for the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority. "It was about who’s a Democrat and who’s a Republican. It’s the whole state, not just this community."
Democrats held a 626 to 432 registration edge in the borough, where there were 1,548 undeclared voters and 16 Independents.
Ms. Walker Laudenberger and Mayor Patten paid a visit later Tuesday night to Mr. Schneider’s home to congratulate the winners.

