by Davy James, Staff Writer
South Brunswick’s loss is now Middlesex County’s gain as Councilwoman Carol Barrett was selected to replace the late David Crabiel on the county Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Ms. Barrett was voted to fill the position by the county’s Democratic committeemen and committeewomen during a special convention held Jan. 4. She resigned from the Township Council on Monday and was sworn in to her new position Tuesday.
”I’m ecstatically happy because this is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I first started working in this county,” Ms. Barrett said. “In the southern part of the county we’ve never had a freeholder who lived in this part of the county, although David Crabiel was gracious and helpful. I think it was time to have representation in this part of the county.”
Ms. Barrett, of Mahogany Court in Monmouth Junction, served on the Township Council since 1999 and served as deputy mayor since 2003.
Ms. Barrett received 353 votes, more than former Edison Councilman Charles Tomaro and East Brunswick resident Amy Papi. According to Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo, she will be a fine replacement for Mr. Crabiel who died Dec. 1 at the age of 78.
”I’ve known her for a long time as a county employee and head of the labor union and I know she thinks an awful lot of this county,” Mr. Spicuzzo said. “As a councilwoman and as deputy mayor she would always do anything you asked and always did a good job.”
Ms. Barrett will fill the seat until at least November’s general election. She will need to win the party’s primary in June to be eligible to run in the November general election in order to fill the remaining two years of Mr. Crabiel’s term, which expires in 2011.
South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambatese said the loss of Ms. Barrett on the council will be great, but said they now gain a powerful voice on the freeholder board.
”She’s been with me for 10 years and we’re all going to miss her,” he said. “We had a great relationship with David Crabiel and we look forward to the same relationship. With the growth in this part of the county it’s important to have representation on the board.”
Councilman Joseph Camarota echoed the mayor’s sentiments.
”This was well deserved and she’s been a great mentor to me serving the community the past six years,” he said.
The township’s democratic committee will be screening for candidates to fill Ms. Barrett’s Township Council position before submitting three names for the council to vote on. The person selected will serve the first year of Ms. Barrett’s three-year term before needing to run for re-election in November.
Ms. Barrett said one of her first priorities as freeholder is the preservation of open space and the acquisition of the Van Dyke Farm in South Brunswick. She said she would miss her colleagues in South Brunswick but looks forward to serving the township and county from her new position.
”I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m going to miss my fellow council members because we’ve all become friends,” she said. “But this part of the county needs representation and that’s what I will bring to the freeholder board. I can be a lot more effective and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

