By Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN – Political newcomer Isabel McGinty came in first by a wide margin as local residents turned out in droves and handed in a split ticket, electing Democrat McGinty and Republican Mike Theokas to two seats on the Borough Council.
Unofficial results showed Ms. McGinty, a criminal attorney, garnering 1,199 votes and Mr. Theokas, the former owner of Theo’s Lakeside Tavern, getting 936. Democrat Janice Mastriano, a former member of the regional school board, came in third, with 842 votes. Republican Ashley Hutchinson, an attorney and chairwoman of the borough Republican Committee, finished fourth with 755.
Ms. McGinty expressed surprise at her margin of victory and acknowledged that the historic presidential election may have played a role.
“Man, do I thank Barack Obama!” she said shortly after returning home from working as an election observer in Philadelphia for the Obama campaign.
Mr. Theokas, the only candidate running on a platform that includes support for total consolidation with East Windsor, expressed mixed feelings.
“It feels great but it’s a little bittersweet right now,” he said at his former business, where he and about 15 GOP supporters had gathered. “I was hoping for Ashley and me to get in as a ticket.”
Of 2,960 registered voters in the borough, 2,086 or 70.5 percent went to the polls, according to the borough’s Web site.
Ms. McGinty, 53, of Broad Street, and Mr. Theokas, 35, of Mill Run East, will be sworn in to seats now being held by Democrats Ryan Rosenberg and Constance Harinxma, who did not seek re-election.
For more on this story, turn to the Friday’s edition of the Windsor-Hights Herald.

