Christopher Rafano NORTH BRUNSWICK – Stephen “Pete” Dalina, Christopher Rafano and Blanquita Valenti were re-elected to the Middlesex County Freeholder Board, defeating their Republican counterparts Geoffrey Champion, Daniel Kerwin and John Rucki during elections on Tuesday.
“I think the voters spoke loud and clear that they wanted to keep us. We’re delighted,” Valenti said.
The major campaign issues for the Democrats this year were limiting tax inc reases, increasing open space, combating homelessness, acquiring funds to prevent juvenile delinquency, increasing county security and using alternative energy resources.
“I think we have an outstanding record as the Board of Chosen Freeholders. I think we provide quality service to our residents and the results of the election show that,” Rafano said.
In the coming three-year term, the board hopes to continue with the alleviation of traffic problems, increasing of Homeland Security measures and keeping taxes as low as possible.
“We have to make sure the budget is right for the people of Middlesex County,” Dalina said. “We are ready to work with the freeholders to make the people of Middlesex County a good deal on their taxes so they don’t increase.”
Pete Dalina The issue of fiscal responsibility was important to the Republicans as well, although in a different facet. Rucki said that the amount of money spent by the opposition on the campaign was “obscene” and that “there are so many other things that could be usefully done with the amount of revenue as opposed to throwing it away on brochures and mailings.”
However, Rucki said that despite their loss to the Democrats, the number of residents in the county who voted for the Republican candidates improved from about 35 percent last year to about 43 percent or so this year.
“I entered knowing this would be an uphill fight but I’m very pleased with what happened. I would have preferred the entire ticket [being voted in] but we showed that the Republicans delivered an impact with the right issues to the people.”
Rucki’s main objectives were increasing local Homeland Security efforts and ending corruption by officials. He said that dual office holding, pension padding and double dipping into pensions are unacceptable.
Blanquita Valenti “The issue is not going to disappear. The only thing that will make the issue disappear is if the abuse is stopped,” he said.
Champion, who ran for freeholder last year, focused on creating an ethics-driven approach to county government by abolishing the acceptance of developer funds and ending pay-to-play no-bid contracts. Kerwin campaigned on imp roving transportation roadways and methods of travel since Middlesex County is considered the second worst county for automobile accidents, injuries and fatalities, according to the Department of Transportation.
Neither Champion nor Kerwin could be reached by press time.
The Freeholder Board will hold a reorganization meeting in January to swear in the incumbents.