By: centraljersey.com
HILLSBOROUGH – Paul Drake withdrew his name from this year’s Township Committee race Tuesday, and Montgomery Road resident Maureen Vella will run in his place, according to a release from the Hillsborough Democratic Organization.
Mr. Drake won the party’s nomination in the June primary voting, and was poised to face current Mayor Frank DelCore, who had ended Mr. Drake’s bid for re-election in 2007 by 44 votes. Mr. Drake was first elected in 2004, beating out Tony Gwiazdowski by 23 votes.
In the organization’s release, Mr. Drake cited increasing personal and professional commitments as his reason for withdrawing from the election.
"Withdrawing from the campaign was a difficult decision for me, however, because of my family commitments and increased work responsibilities," Mr. Drake said in an e-mailed statement. "I was concerned that I would be unable to provide sufficient time to devote to the rigors of campaigning, which the people of Hillsborough deserve.
"I fully support Maureen Vella since I am confident that she will prove to be an excellent member of the Township Committee," he added. "Her skill set as a well-respected attorney will contribute greatly to the debate that is needed, and her understanding of law will bring new insights regarding how to address the continual increasing property taxes in the township."
The Somerset County Clerk’s Office has not received any of the necessary paperwork for changing the candidate who will run in the election as of Wednesday, Brett Radi, county clerk, said. A notice to remove a candidate must be filed with the county clerk’s office by Monday, and a form to replace the candidate must be signed by the county chair of the candidate’s political party and filed with the county clerk’s office by Wednesday, he added.
Concerns over taxes and schools prompted Ms. Vella to replace Mr. Drake as a candidate, she said. Though she thought about filing for candidacy previously, family commitments prevented her from running.
"I wanted to run because I looked at what was happening in Hillsborough and I was very concerned," she said. "Looking at the taxes, I was concerned. Looking at the schools, I was concerned. You have property taxes, the town’s future plan, the spending of money, the governor’s best practice checklist. There are so many things. There is only a single party representation on the Township Committee and no discussion."
Ms. Vella moved to Hillsborough 13 years ago, and runs her own family and bankruptcy law firm, she said. She has one child who graduated Hillsborough High School, and two children who currently attend the schools.

