Frascella topples Scheff in U.F. primary election

Winner said he’ll work toward closing rift in town’s GOP

BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP and JANE MEGGITT Staff Writers

UPPER FREEHOLD – Dr. Robert Frascella won an overwhelming victory in the June 3 Republican primary over his opponent Bryan Scheff.

Both Republicanswere running for their party’s nod to seek the Township Committee seat currently occupied by David Reed, who declined to run for a second term, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Frascella bested Scheff in a vote of 563- 399, and carried all four districts.Although no Democratic candidates were running, Scheff received three write-in votes as aDemocrat and Frascella received four.

“I’m very happy I won the election,” Frascella said. “Both sides worked very hard, but the people inUpper Freehold have spoken and I won in all four districts, which hasn’t happened in a while.”

Frascella attributes his success to the voters in Upper Freehold who heard his campaign for fiscal responsibility and more land preservation.

“There’s a lot of waste,” he said. “I’m going to keep a close watch on how the township is spending money. We have a $7 million budget and every bit I can save in one area helps other areas.”

For example, Frascella said attorney fees have accumulated to $75,000 since the first of this year. He said he has nothing against the township attorney, butwould like to look closer at the jobs township officials are doling out to the attorney and if those jobs could be done by other township staff members.

Although the mayoral position and all Township Committee seats are filled with Republicans, there is a rift in the party with Frascella, outgoing Committeeman David Reed andCommitteeman StanleyMoslowksi Jr. on one side and Mayor Steve Alexander, Committeeman Bob Faber and Committeewoman Lori HorsnallMount on the other.

Scheff, who was aligned with the Alexander contingent, said he was extremely proud of his team for running a good, clean campaign based on hearing the people and listening to their issues.

“During the past sevenweeks I ‘knocked’ on over 1,200 doors in Upper Freehold, and I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and to see some beautiful properties,” Scheff said. “I have no regrets, and I will cherish thememory of campaigning for a long time to come.”

Scheff said he has been active in Upper Freehold politics since before moving into the area.

“This election won’t change that,” he said. “It only determines which side of the dais I’ll be sitting on,” he said.

Frascella said the split that exists does not change his determination to do the best job he can for all of the residents of Upper Freehold.

“If there’s an issue we all agree on, I’m not going to against them because they are my opponents,” he said. “I don’t want it to be that way and end up in a push and pull where no one budges and we don’t get anything done for the town.”

Frascella said he would work to try to bring the two sides together in the best interest of the town.

“We can have spirited debates and we can discuss our issues,” he said.