Lawrence residents are running for Mercer County freeholder and county surrogate.
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Four Lawrence residents are among the eight candidates who had filed to run for three seats on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and for Mercer County Surrogate by the Monday afternoon filing deadline.
No one filed to run for Township Council because there is no election this year.
Two township residents incumbent Freeholder Pat Colavita Jr., a Democrat, and Republican Party nominee Kim Taylor are seeking seats on the Freeholder board. The terms are for four years.
The two candidates for Mercer County Surrogate are Lawrence residents incumbent Surrogate Diane Gerofsky, a Democrat, and her Republican Party challenger, Colette Coolbaugh. The term is for five years.
Mr. Colavita, 61, is seeking his second term on the Freeholder board. The Winnipeg Lane resident is a retired speech and language therapist who formerly worked in the Hamilton school district.
Mr. Colavita served on the Lawrence Township Board of Education from 1984 to 1993, and served as president and vice president of the school board. He was chairman of the school board’s Community Relations Committee.
Mr. Colavita also served one term on Township Council. He served as mayor for two years. The mayor is selected from among the five Township Council members.
"I still have the energy and desire to serve," Mr. Colavita said. "I believe in community service. I think for me to be able to facilitate helping people is one of the most rewarding ventures of my life. I model my parents, who taught me to give back to the community."
Ms. Taylor, 42, lives on Fountayne Lane. She is an accountant and bookkeeper in Hunterdon County Finance Department.
Ms. Taylor has never held elected office.
"I seek to use my professional expertise and personal experience to enhance life for all of Mercer County," said Ms. Taylor, who is presently a Republican committeewoman for General Election District 16.
"With over 16 years of experience in public finance, I am well positioned to carry out the duties of Mercer County Freeholder with energy, effectiveness and efficiency," Ms. Taylor said. "I look forward to having a direct and positive impact on the future of Mercer County."
Ms. Gerofsky, 60, is seeking her third, five-year term as Mercer County Surrogate. The Marvin Court resident is a former teacher, social worker, paralegal and law firm administrator. She had never held elective office prior to serving as the Surrogate.
The Mercer County Surrogate’s Office is the one that people turn to when a loved one dies. If the deceased person has prepared a will that outlines the disposition of his or her property, it is filed with the surrogate’s office through a process known as probate.
"I love my job," Ms. Gerofsky said. "It is a blend of my past careers. I want to continue to offer to my constituents the same caring and compassionate service that they have been afforded. I have satellite offices in Pennington and Lawrence, Ewing, Hamilton, East Windsor and Princeton townships that I visit once a month (to accommodate survivors who need to probate a will)."
Ms. Coolbaugh, 62, is the Republican Party nominee for surrogate.
The Cliveden Court resident is an attorney. She has never held elected office, but she ran unsuccessfully for Township Council in 2003.
"Two things I truly believe in are one, if you don’t participate, don’t complain and, in order to thrive, democracy requires intelligent alternative views and political choice," Ms. Coolbaugh said. "I offer a qualified alternative if the voters agree that a balance of power serves all of us best in the long run."
Ms. Coolbaugh said for previous 10 years "political power has been divided," in county government.
"Now we only have Democrats," she said.
The other candidates who have filed to run for Freeholder are Democratic incumbent Freeholders Ann Cannon of Ewing Township and Elizabeth Muoio of Pennington.
The Republican Party challengers are Ashley Hutchinson of Hightstown and Marjorie Lynn Hopwood of Ewing.

