ALLENTOWN: Area sees large voter turnout

Open Space questions approved in Allentown, Upper Freehold

By Jessica Ercolino and Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writers
   An unprecedented amount of voters turned out at the polls Tuesday to pick the new president and weigh in on local races and referendums.
   In the only contested local municipal race this year, Allentown’s Republican incumbents won both available seats on the Borough Council. Michael Schumacher received 557 votes and Margaret Armenante received 488. Democratic challenger Wayne Smith received 427 votes.
   Results were unofficial as of press time.
   Mr. Schumacher and Ms. Armenante were celebrating the win together Tuesday night.
   ”It’s a gratifying and humbling experience to have voters turn out and give you their vote of confidence for what you’ve done so far and what they expect you to do going forward,” said Mr. Schumacher, who has been on the council since 1994. “I’m hoping to live up to their expectations in the coming term.”
   Ms. Armenante echoed her fellow Republican’s sentiments.
   ”I am very happy that Allentown voters had the confidence to re-elect me for a third time,” she said. “I plan to get right down to business.”
   Mr. Smith said he had no comment on the results of the election. When asked if he planned to run again, he said, “I’m not going to speculate on that right now. I’m not going to commit to anything.”
   Voters in Allentown also approved a 3.5-cent increase in the open space tax rate by a vote of 429-314.
   The move will increase the rate from 1 to 4.5 cents per $100 of assessed value to pay debt on open space purchases. This will mean an increase of $53.66 for the owner of a home assessed at the borough’s $153,300 average.
   Residents in Upper Freehold also voted to increase their open space tax rate — a move that was approved last year, but scrapped after officials discovered a misprint in the question that affected the amount to be raised by taxation.
   The move will raise the township’s open space tax rate from 4 to 6 cents, which will mean an approximate $104 increase for the owner of a home assessed at the township’s $519,800 average.
   Approximately 61 percent of voters OK’d the 2-cent increase this year — an approximate 11 percent bump in voter approval from the question’s proposition last year.
   ”The passing of the referendum in this extremely difficult economic time tells me that residents in Upper Freehold understand the benefits of preserving land,” Mayor Steve Alexander said Tuesday. “This enables Upper Freehold to continue to partner with various state and county agencies for the preservation of land.”
   He added that the additional money would also give the township flexibility to find smaller strategically located properties to preserve if Upper Freehold were not able to partner with the state or county in the future.
   In an uncontested race, Robert Frascella, of Dutchess Drive, was elected to a three-year term on the Upper Freehold Township Committee.
   ”I’m obviously really happy to be elected,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with the other Township Committee members, keeping an eye on expenditures and trying to keep taxes low.”
   The 44-year-old dentist added that he was disappointed by the committee’s recent decision to move from 3-acre to 6-acre zoning.
   ”In this economy, you have to be careful what you do that affects the farmers; you’ve cut the equity in their land…to what extent, we’re not really sure yet,” he said. “The last people you want to hurt in a rural community are the people who keep your community rural.”
   The seat is being vacated by current Committeeman David Reed, who decided not to run for re-election so he could spend more time with his family. Dr. Frascella ran uncontested for the seat as no Democrats filed this year. He defeated Ridgeview Way resident Bryan Scheff for the Republican nod in the June primary elections.
   In Plumsted, Republican incumbents Ron Dancer and David Leutwyler were re-elected to their seats on the Township Committee in an uncontested race.
   Both candidates thanked voters for their support Tuesday.
   Mayor Dancer, mayor of Plumsted since 1990, will serve for another three years.
   ”Keeping our township safe, rural and affordable with land preservation, tax stabilization and economic revitalization policies remain priorities,” said Mayor Dancer, adding that the township also places an emphasis on youth recreation, sports programs and senior citizen services.
   Mr. Leutwyler — who took over for the late Committeeman Ken Francis in November 2007 — will serve the remaining two years on that seat. He said he will continue to work hard for the people of Plumsted.
   ”I am looking forward to working with the other members of the Plumsted Township Committee and all the volunteer groups of New Egypt who continue to do such a great job,” he said Tuesday. “Together we can keep this community the great place it has always been, and continue to move forward in the future.”
   No Democratic candidates filed to run in Plumsted Township this year.
   In Millstone, Republican Michael Kuczinski, who took over for former Committeeman Ray Dilfanian in January after he stepped down, was re-elected to a three-year seat on the Township Committee. Newcomer Fiore Masci, of Fawn Way, was appointed to the other seat, as current Committeeman Steven Sico chose not to run for re-election.
   ”I’m very excited to have the opportunity to help the community continue to move forward in a positive and meaningful way,” Mr. Masci said Tuesday.
   No Democrats filed to run in Millstone this year.
   In Robbinsville, current Township Councilman Rich Levesque, of Garden Place, was elected to serve the remainder of the four-year seat, ending June 2011.
   ”Today, the people of Robbinsville have spoken and I am honored that they have elected me to serve as their councilman,” he said in a statement Tuesday night. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside Mayor Fried to keep Robbinsville moving in the right direction.”
   The 26–year-old called Robbinsville a “special place to live, work and raise a family,” and said he would continue to fight for property tax relief to keep the township affordable by attracting new businesses to the Route 130 corridor. He added that creating recreational opportunities for children through open space preservation is also a priority.
   Mr. Levesque was appointed to the council last month to fill former Councilman Tim McGough’s seat until Tuesday. Mr. McGough resigned in late August, citing family and job responsibilities.
   No other Robbinsville residents filed to run for the seat.