Dems sweep E.B. mayoral, council races

Stahl to succeed Neary; Pinkin, Contrino elected

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

Democrats remain firmly in control of East Brunswick government, winning the mayoral race and both seats up for grabs on the Township Council.

David Stahl David Stahl Democrat David Stahl, a councilman for six years, garnered 10,945 votes to defeat Republican Christi Calvano, who had 9,494 votes, and independent Donald Klemp, with 1,053.

In the race for two four-year terms on the five-member council, incumbent Nancy Pinkin was the top votegetter with 10,899 nods. Newcomer Denise Contrino was second with 10,098. They defeated Republicans Dr. Eugene DeMarzo, who had 9,819 votes, and James Wendell, with 9,466.

The election comes at the end of a year in which 12-year Mayor William Neary announced he would not seek re-election, and the party voted to nominate Stahl for mayor over Klemp, a 12-year Democratic councilman. Klemp complained that party leaders were unfair in their handling of the matter, and chose to run independently. They faced Calvano, a former councilwoman and the only Republican to win an election in the last decade.

Stahl, 52, an attorney, attributed the win to his record and the hard work he and his running mates put in leading up to the election. He also said the concrete ideas he presented for township government paved the way for the win.

“It was key for us to talk about the issues,” Stahl said. “It was a question of who had ideas and could provide leadership as we move forward.”

Calvano, 33, said it was a close race, which showed that voters are not happy with all that has happened under Democratic leadership.

The Republicans, she said, faced an uphill battle in part due to a recent upsurge in the number of Democratic voters in East Brunswick. The township already had a greater number of registered Democrats. She felt the election was more challenging because of the way the majority voted in the national elections.

Klemp, 54, may be finishing his political career. He currently has no thoughts about running for office again.

He said he knew what he was up against in the election, “but I never knew what would happen until that night.” He said he enjoyed interacting with residents during the campaign, but he will also enjoy the free time he will now have. He plans to remain involved with organizations such as Camp Daisy.

Pinkin, a health care and nonprofit consultant, will begin her second four-year term in January, when Contrino, 39, a provider relations network coordinator for AmeriHealth Insurance Co., will start her first term.

Contrino, who has served on the township Zoning Board of Adjustment and is a former president of the Pine Ridge Neighborhood Association, will take Klemp’s place on the council.

The council will also have to appoint someone to replace Stahl, who will resign to become mayor.

Pinkin attributed the Nov. 4 win in part to the hard work of the Democrats during campaign season, when they went door to door over a large section of the township. She also said the party benefited from the fact that they did not campaign negatively, and encouraged people to watch the debates and read up on the issues.

“We asked people to go with us based on the merits of the job we did,” Pinkin said. “We did not assume we’d be successful without working hard.”

The Democrats have controlled the governing body since 1996, and the Republican Party has been without representation since Calvano served on the council from 2003- 06.

DeMarzo, 52, said one of the positives from the campaign was the fact that the Republican challengers got to meet citizens “who gave so much support, especially for Christi.

“They appreciated the years on council fighting like she did for the township,” he said.D

eMarzo said he feels the party could have done a better job explaining to voters that more commercial tax ratables are needed in town. He said the Golden Triangle is adding to the problem, because the township lost its annual rent from businesses there when it sold the property to Toll Brothers, and there is no sign of construction of new ratables there.

“We could have kept it, and it would have helped us tremendously,” he said of the Route 18 property.

The Republican team expected better results last week.

“I was a little bewildered by the outcome,” DeMarzo said. “I really thought we would have done better.”

Pinkin said people realized the Democrats have done right by the town in recent years.

“We did a good job on council. We were there for all people of all ages. I think that’s what got us elected,” she said.

The Democrats, Pinkin added, also let it be known that they are conscious of what’s happening with the economy, proposing ideas for fiscal reform and tax relief.

Wendell, 41, said his party ran a great campaign, and he thanked campaign manager Ben DeMarzo, Eugene’s son.

Wendell said he was disappointed with the results, “but I will continue to stay involved and ask questions, and try to get East Brunswick back on the right track.” He said he would consider another run for office at some point. “It’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Wendell said. “Now hopefully

we’ll get the right Dave Stahl up there.”