Local voters back Senate winner

Menendez gets Township support

By: Joseph Harvie
    U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, both Democrats, had overwhelming support from South Brunswick voters on Tuesday night when New Jersey re-elected both men for another term in Washington.
    Sen. Menendez, who took office in Jan. 2006 when Gov. Jon Corzine vacated his U.S. Senate seat to become governor, won with 966,983 votes statewide. His challenger, Republican state Sen. Thomas Kean, received 863,211.
    Rep. Rush Holt retained his 12th Congressional District seat with 115,413 votes. His opponent, Republican Joseph Sinagra, received 60,443 votes.
    New Jersey’s Senate race was heated this year, with both parties viewing it as instrumental to either gaining or keeping control of the Senate. The Democrats gained control of the House, picking up at least 27 seats as of Wednesday afternoon, and appeared to have taken the Senate, as well, though recounts were expected in Virginia and Montana.
    In South Brunswick, Sen. Menendez received 56.8 percent, or 5,180, of the 9,126 votes cast for U.S. Senate by township voters. Sen. Kean tallied 40.3 percent, or 3,679 votes. The remaining 2.9 percent of voters chose to vote for third party candidates, with the most, 0.7 percent or 92 votes, going to Libertarian Len Flynn.
    In the 12th District, which includes South Brunswick, Rep. Holt garnered 68.3 percent, or 6,100, of the 8,934 township votes for Congress. Mr. Sinagra received 31.7, or 2,834, township votes.
    Some voters randomly interviewed after casting ballots at the Community Center said they voted a straight Democratic ticket because they liked the incumbents locally and they want to see a change in the balance of power in Washington. Others said they voted for Sen. Menendez because they didn’t trust state Sen. Kean. Voters said they voted to re-elect Rep. Holt because he has done good work for South Brunswick while in office.
    Steven Georges, of Kendall Park, said he voted down the Democratic line for the first time. He said he voted for Sen. Menendez as a protest against the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate.
    "I wanted to vote against Bush," Mr. Georges said.
    A few voters at Brunswick Acres School supported Sen. Kean, but chose the Democratic ticket elsewhere. Others said Democrats support labor unions and that they were the lesser of two evils.
    Some at the South Brunswick Senior Center said they didn’t trust Sen. Menendez. Others supported him because he is against the Iraq war.
    Kathy Neeff, of Dayton, said she voted for Rep. Holt because she has met him, and that he works to make things better for his constituents.
    Mike Gogolin, of Monmouth Junction, said he voted for Mr. Sinagra and Sen. Kean because he likes their Republican views.
    "I like what the Republicans are doing," Mr. Gogolin said. "Especially on issues like homeland security and the war in Iraq."
    Several voters at the South Brunswick High School said they voted for Democrats to protest the president and the Republican-controlled Congress.
    Others said they were irked by the negative political advertising from the candidates and would have preferred they focus on issues.