Sikorski, Dems won’t challenge GOP choice
By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN About five weeks after notifying the borough and the news media that a Republican candidate in the primary election was not registered to vote and saying he would file a complaint, Democratic Borough Council President Walter Sikorski said this week that he had changed his mind. He won’t challenge the candidacy of Mike Theokas.
"After consulting with several attorneys and taking into account my limited financial resources, I have decided to withdraw any formal legal challenge," he said. "Unfortunately, the petition process needs some legislative remedy. The petitioners are asked to attest to information of which they have no knowledge."
"When you sign a nominating petition, you’re assuming that person meets all the qualifications, but how do you know that?"
Mr. Sikorski said the attorneys he spoke to were referred to him by the Mercer County Democratic Party, which he said does not plan a challenge of its own. Attempts to reach Richard McClellan, chairman of the county party, were unsuccessful.
Mr. Sikorski also repeated his belief that change is needed when it comes to local and county officials checking information on petitions.
Mr. Theokas, the lone GOP candidate for two council seats, previously said he was surprised to learn that he wasn’t a registered voter. He said he had voted in the borough in the last election, but a county voter registration document stated that he last voted in 2000 as an unaffiliated voter registered in North Brunswick.
Local GOP Chairwoman Ashley Hutchinson has said she believes Mr. Theokas used a provisional ballot to vote in the borough and that the county failed to send him a registration form.
Whatever the case, it appears the episode is over and Mr. Theokas’ name will appear on the general election ballot in November.
"If he’s not challenged, I can’t remove him," Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello said this week.
Mr. Theokas, owner of Theo’s Lakeside Tavern in the borough, said he was "very pleased" to hear that.
"I just want to thank everyone who voted for me, especially those who wrote me in, and I’m looking forward to the campaign and the election in November," he said.
Mr. Theokas received 32 regular votes and 13 write-ins. And he acknowledged that he had sought write-in votes after learning of the registration snafu on Election Day, thinking that they could help him get on the ballot if his GOP votes were ruled invalid.
He will face Mr. Sikorski, who received 65 votes, and downtown businessman Jeff Bond, who garnered 47 votes and one write-in. Incumbent Democratic Councilman Patrick Thompson is not seeking re-election.