Presidential hopefuls top Tuesday’s election ballot

By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
   Registered voters will find presidential candidates, Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, as well as eight third-party candidates, at the top of the ballot on Tuesday, Election Day.
   Polling places statewide will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Officials expect a record turnout, and lines may be long at times. Voters are advised to go to polling places during off-peak hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
   To reduce poll congestion, Mercer County officials are urging residents to vote before Election Day with absentee ballots. Ballots are available at the Mercer County Clerk’s office in Trenton, and registered voters can fill them out in person until 3 p.m. Monday. The office will be open today, Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. The office opens at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
   In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg is seeking his fifth, non-consecutive six-year term. Republican Dick Zimmer, who represented the 12th Congressional District from 1991 to 1997, challenges him. Sen. Lautenberg served in the Senate from 1982 to 2000 and from 2002 to the present.
   In the 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Rush Holt, who seeks his sixth consecutive term, is running against Republican Alan Bateman for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
   Voters in the 7th Congressional District will find Democrat Assemblywoman Linda Stender running against Republican state Sen. Leonard Lance. The candidates hope to fill the seat of Rep. Mike Ferguson, who announced last year that he would not seek re-election.
   The only contested race for Princeton Borough Council is between Democratic incumbent Kevin Wilkes and Republican challenger Dudley Sipprelle. They are running for a one-year unexpired term. Democratic council members Barbara Trelstad and David Goldfarb are running unopposed for three-year terms.
   Princeton Township Deputy Mayor Bernard Miller and Susan Nemeth, both Democrats, are running unopposed for three-year terms on the Township Committee.
   In Montgomery, one Township Committee seat is up for grabs. Republican candidate Kacey Dyer and Democrat Keith Hovey are running for the three-year term.
   In Plainsboro, Mayor Peter Cantu is running unopposed for another term on the Township Committee, as is Committeeman Nuran Nabi.
   Three seats are open on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Democrats Lucy Walter and John Cimino are running for a three-year term, against just one Republican candidate, Thomas R. White, for two seats. For a one-year unexpired term, Daniel Benson is running against Cindy Randazzo.
   Somerset County residents will be choosing two seats on the county freeholder board. Democrats Doug Singleterry and Montgomery Mayor Cecilia Birge are challenging Republican incumbents, freeholder Director Peter Palmer and Robert Zaborowski.
   In Middlesex County, three seats are open on the freeholder board. Longtime freeholder Director David Crabiel, a Democrat, and running mate Millie Scott are up against Republicans Lynda Woods Cleary and Daniel Kerwin for two open seats. Democrat Ronald G. Rios is running against Republican Robert Thuring for a one-year unexpired term of former freeholder John Pulomena, who stepped down to take the job of county administrator.
   Kevin Larkin and James McSorley Jr. are running for sheriff in Mercer County.
   Two questions, regarding state authority bonds and municipal court judge selection, will also be on the ballot.