Voters re-elect Miller, Holmes to town council

Councilman Rick Miller, a Republican, and Councilman Mark Holmes, a Democrat were elected to four-year terms on the township’s governing body.

By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
For the first time in 24 years, township voters sent a Democrat and a Republican to Township Council.
   Tuesday night, Councilman Rick Miller — a Republican — was the top vote-getter with 4,740 votes. Councilman Mark Holmes, a Democrat, received 4,659 votes to come in second. The two men were running mates as Republicans in 2001, but Mr. Holmes switched parties in early 2002.
   The last time that voters opted not to send a political slate to Township Council occurred in 1981, when they elected Republican candidate Gretel Gatterdam and Democratic candidate Joseph Cermele to four-year terms on the council.
   Michael Horan, who ran on the Democratic ticket with Mr. Holmes, placed third with 4,600 votes. Bob Brackett, who was on the Republican ticket with Mr. Miller, was fourth with 4,201 votes. He ran unsuccessfully for Township Council in 2003.
   It is not clear whether Mr. Holmes will be able to take his seat on the dais when Township Council reorganizes on New Years Day. Citing an alleged violation of the federal Hatch Act, the Mercer County Republican organization is challenging Mr. Holmes candidacy. (See story on Page 1A.)
   About a dozen Republicans gathered in a second-story room at the Lawrenceville Fire Company to wait for the results Tuesday night. Mr. Brackett entered the results on a laptop computer while the crowd munched on snack food and sandwiches.
   At the township Democratic Party headquarters on Lawrence Road, a larger crowd waited quietly for the results to be posted. As each voting districts results were called in, the vote tallies flip-flopped — the Democrats were ahead and then the Republicans were ahead.
   The final results were tallied at the municipal clerks office shortly before 11 p.m. and Mr. Miller and Mr. Holmes were declared the winners.
   Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Miller said he was pleased with the election results although he would have preferred to have Mr. Brackett serving with him when he is sworn into office in January.
   I know we ran a good, organized campaign, but it didnt work out for us as a team, Mr. Miller said. Its bittersweet to win without Bob. Our numbers were strong, but not enough to overcome forces out on the street. We ran in the most expensive governors campaign (in state history).
   Mr. Brackett said Wednesday that he was a little disappointed that he did not win.
   Thats what the voters wanted, Mr. Brackett said. I thank everybody who voted for us, but Im not conceding yet. There is another part (of the story) — whether Mark Holmes was OK to run. As far as I am concerned, Mike Horan and I are still in it.
   After the election results were counted Tuesday night, Mr. Holmes said he was upset with the negative, false claims that the Republicans circulated against him and that hurt his overall vote count. He was referring to his alleged violation of the federal Hatch Act which prohibits public workers who oversee federally funded programs from running for partisan office. Mr. Holmes is executive director of the Housing Authority of East Orange.
   (Despite) every negative attack and every untruth, there were still only 81 votes difference between the two of us, Mr. Holmes said. It shows my character. Most of the community is still behind me. Mr. Miller earned 81 more votes than Mr. Holmes.
   Mr. Horan said he was happy that he and Mr. Holmes earned about the same amount of votes each. The election results showed that he and Mr. Holmes were unified, although he was disappointed at the final tally.
   I dont like cliffhangers, but in the world of politics, it happens sometimes, Mr. Horan said. I am absolutely not conceding at this point simply because not only has Mark done his part, (but) I have come within a very small number of votes of beating a 12-year incumbent (Mr. Miller).