There were no contested primary races for municipal governing body posts Tuesday
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
In Hopewell Valley, there were no contested primary races for municipal governing body posts on Tuesday.
As a possible result, voter turnout in the Valley was not impressive, particularly in Hopewell Township, where 1,195 out of 11,771 registered voters went to the polls. That’s a 10.15 percent turnout.
Percentages were better in the two boroughs. In Pennington, there were 315 votes out of a possible 1,299, a 24 percent turnout rate. In Hopewell Borough, 215 residents cast ballots out of 889 who were eligible to vote, also a 24 percent turnout.
The November general election, however, should be more exciting. It will include local races in Pennington and Hopewell Township. There will be no races for positions for seats on Hopewell Borough Council.
In Pennington, where there will be a race for two Borough Council seats (three-year terms). Democratic incumbents Edwin Weed Tucker, of Woolsey Court, received 184 votes, and Glen Griffiths, of Baldwin Street, 181.
On the Republican side of Borough Council primary action, Mark Blackwell, of North Main Street received 81 votes. Stewart Schwab, of South Main Street, received 79.
Hopewell Township — In November, three candidates will seek two open seats (three-year terms) on the Hopewell Township Committee.
On Tuesday, Democratic incumbents Vanessa Sandom, of Harbourton Ridge Drive, and John Murphy, of New Road, received 624 and 644 votes respectively. The absentee ballot count is not included.
Hoping to unseat one of the above will be Republican challenger Eileen McGinnis, of Harbourton-Woodsville Road. She received 330 votes. No petition was filed in April for the second seat on the GOP side.
In Hopewell Borough, there will be no races in November for two open Borough Council seats (three-year terms). Republican incumbents C. Schuyler Morehouse, of East Prospect Street, and Robert Lewis, of West Broad Street, ran unopposed. Each received 42 votes Tuesday. No Democrats filed for those two seats in April.
Valley voters gave candidates in other races the following:
For U.S. Senate, incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg, Tuesday’s winner, got 850. Robert E. Andrews polled 282 and Donald Cresitello, 26.
In the Republican primary, winner Dick Zimmer got 336. Joseph Pennacchio polled 175 and Murray Sabrin, 40.
For U.S. House of Representatives (12th Congressional District), incumbent Democrat Rush Holt of Hopewell Township received 1,069 votes. Republican Alan R. Bateman got 454. There was no primary race in either party.
For Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders, incumbent Democrat Tony Mack, who has served four terms, lost his bid to be a freeholder candidate in November. He got 149 votes in the Valley. Winners are incumbent Lucy Walter with 918 and newcomer John Cimino, who polled 903.
For the Republicans, Thomas R. White polled 451 and Darren C. Chell, 441.
For the one-year unexpired term on the freeholder board, Democrat Daniel R. Benson received 928. Republican Cindy W. Randazzo got 447.
— For Mercer County sheriff, Democrat Kevin C. Larkin polled 955. Republican James J. McSorley Jr. received 457.