Bergman, Miller win close race in Princeton Township

Republicans Bryant and Pyle narrow victory gap of prior elections

By: Rachel Silverman
   In what was a hotly contested race, the two Democratic candidates for Princeton Township Committee —Vicky Bergman and Bernie Miller — claimed a joint victory over Republican challengers Gordon Bryant and Tom Pyle on Tuesday night.
   Though the Republican contenders fared well in certain districts, including the Princeton Ridge and Ettl Farm areas, and closed the margin of defeat compared to prior years, they ultimately failed to secure seats on the all-Democratic Township Committee.
   According to unofficial results, which do not include provisional ballots, Mr. Miller, an incumbent, received 2,894 votes, with Ms. Bergman garenering 2,891. Mr. Bryant followed with 2,365 votes and Mr. Pyle received 2,358.
   Although the Democrats won handily, their margin of victory was considerably less than in recent elections. In 2004, for example, Democratic Township Committee candidates won by a more than 2-to-1 margin over their Republican opponents, as opposed to 1.2-to-1 this year.
   The Election Day turnout was 5,146, or 53 percent of registered voters.
   Ms. Bergman attributed the Democrats’ success to hard work and "knocking on a lot of doors."
   "People felt we had a very positive message," she said, "that we were running on our experience and our vision of good government."
   She also offered some thoughts on where her Republican opponents went astray.
   "It’s not terribly effective to run a negative campaign that says cut, cut, cut," she said. "You don’t do it by negative ads in the newspaper."
   Mr. Miller agreed.
   "It is unfortunate that became almost the sole focus of the campaign," he said. "Pocketbook issues have to be balanced against quality of life."
   On election night, Mr. Pyle insisted his message was on target.
   "I think property taxes is the issue people feel most passionately about," he said. "The closeness of the race shows the issues were clear to people. I’m pretty doggoned pleased with the results."
   Mr. Pyle attributed the defeat to straight party-line voting.
   "I realize it is difficult for some people, given the national situation, to pull the Republican lever," he said.
   But he said he had hoped it would be a different story when it came for voting for the Township Committee. "This is a committee that is physically and emotionally out of touch with the real people of Princeton," he said.
   Mr. Bryant agreed, adding, "Having a sort of clubby atmosphere that extends year after year after year makes certain segments of the township feel their opinions are being ignored, or that they’re being treated with disdain."
   Still, Mr. Bryant said he was glad his campaign resonated with undeclared and crossover voters.
   "I’m deeply disappointed we didn’t win," he said. "But I’m pleased we got a number of voters energized and thinking about the issues."
   In other races, Democrats dominated.
   In the gubernatorial election, township voters gave Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine 3,734 votes, or 68 percent, to Republican Doug Forrester’s 1,629.
   In the 15th District Assembly contest, incumbent Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman was the top vote-getter with 3,511 votes, followed by running mate Reed Gusciora of Princeton Borough, also an incumbent, with 3,474 votes. Trailing were Republican challenger Tom Mavis, a Princeton Township resident, with 1,657 votes and running mate Robert McCready with 1,674.
   Township voters also overwhelmingly picked Democrats in the Mercer County sheriff, county clerk and freeholder races. Kevin Larkin won the sheriff position with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Republican challenger Paul Lagana. County clerk hopeful Paula Sollami-Covello, a Democrat, beat incumbent Republican Cathy DiCostanzo, 3,199 to 1,912. And Democrats Tony Mack and Lucy Walter defeated their Republican rivals, Sylvester Bobby Bryant and Joseph D’Angelo, in the freeholder race by nearly a 2-1 ratio.
   Public Question 1, which proposed creation of a lieutenant governor position, was endorsed by 70 percent of township voters. Public Question 2, centering on air-pollution controls, largely through the mitigation of diesel exhaust, was endorsed by 73 percent of township voters.