HILLSBOROUGH: Drake withdraws from committee race

   Former Township Committeeman Paul Drake has withdrawn from this year’s Township Committee race due to “increasing work and personal commitments,” Hillsborough Democrats announced Tuesday.
   Mr. Drake, of Balmoral Court, had served on the Township Committee from 2004-2007. He lost his bid for re-election in 2007 to Mayor Frank DelCore by a 44-vote margin (4,104 votes for Mr. DelCore to Mr. Drake’s 4,050).
   The Democrats announced attorney Maureen E. Vella will instead be the party’s candidate for the committee.
    ”I am thrilled to take on this challenge,” Ms.Vella said. “I have lived in Hillsborough for 13 years and my family and I love the town but know it is facing many serious issues. I am confident, as a member of the Township Committee, I will be in the position to have a positive impact.”
   Ms. Vella specializes in working with families and individuals facing financial difficulties and is an Accredited Professional Mediator, skills she believes could be useful to the committee.
   ”Working with people, looking for solutions in creative and fiscally responsible ways is what I do every day,” she said. “One thing I have clearly seen is every single dollar is important to people and can make a major difference in their lives.”
   ”I am looking forward to meeting many residents over the next two months, knocking on your door, going to events and seeing residents all around town,” Ms. Vella added. “In the meantime, I encourage everyone to visit www.Maureen2010.com for more information or to contact me.”