Molnar defeats incumbent Shapella for West Amwell seat

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   Republican Tom Molnar defeated incumbent Democrat Ron Shapella 881-772 for a three-year term on the West Amwell Township Committee.
   ”It’s disappointing, there’s no question about it,” Mr. Shapella said Tuesday night.
   Mr. Molnar, who served on the committee from 2004 to 2006, said his goal in running for office a second time was to restore balance to the all-Democratic committee.
   ”I thought it was one-sided,” he said.
   Results were unofficial, but 135 of the votes were cast by absentee ballots. They seemed to make little difference to the election’s outcome.
   According to the Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office, the absentee ballots were almost evenly divided, giving 68 votes to Mr. Molnar and 67 to Mr. Shapella.
   In the presidential election, West Amwell voters favored Republican John McCain over Barack Obama 874-812.
   Of 2,101 registered voters in the township, 1,582 showed up at the polls or 75.3 percent. Another 143 or 6.81 percent voted by absentee ballot.
   In Lambertville, voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question that asked to expand the purpose of the 2-cent open space tax. They agreed 1,404 to 507.
   The tax itself will not increase. Voters’ approval means the city can use the collected funds to purchase 6.741 acres. About 5.6 acres front York Street, and 1.082 acres front Jean Street.
   The vote also will permit the city to use up to 10 percent of the collected tax for maintenance of parks and open space properties.
   Also in Lambertville, two Democrats ran unopposed for two three-year terms on the City Council. Incumbent Ronald Pittore received 1,575 votes. Elizabeth Asaro received 1,506.
   In the presidential race, Lambertville voters favored Sen. Obama over Sen. McCain 1,741 to 654.
   Of 3,099 registered voters in the city, 2,252 showed up at the polls or 73 percent. Another 194 or 6.26 percent voted by absentee ballot.
   In Stockton, three Democrats ran unopposed for the Borough Council.
   Andrew Dougherty received 199 votes for a two-year unexpired term. Kathryn A. Steffanelli and Neal Esposito won two three-year terms with totals of 192 and 231, respectively.
   Stockton voters cast 207 ballots for Sen. Obama and 135 for Sen. McCain.
   The borough has 405 registered voters. More than 77 percent, 313, turned out at the polls. Another 38, or more than 9 percent, cast absentee ballots.
   In Pennsylvania, the majority of voters in New Hope and Solebury voted for Sen. Obama over Sen. McCain. In New Hope, the vote was 1,042 to 476. In Solebury, it was 3,134 to 2,620.