By David Kilby, Staff Writer
MONROE — There will be no contest in the June primary in the township as three Republicans and three Democrats are uncontested for mayor and the two available seats on the Township Council.
The Democratic candidates are incumbent Mayor Richard Pucci as well as incumbent Councilwoman Leslie Koppel and newcomer Stephen Dalina.
Irwin Malitt, a Democrat, decided not to run for re-election. He has been a councilman for six terms.
The Republican candidates are Carlos Lopez for mayor and Philip Kaufman and Brian Hackett for council.
Mr. Hackett is a graduate of the Monroe Township school system and a magna cum laude honors graduate of The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
Mr. Lopez is a college graduate and a military veteran who has two daughters in the Monroe school system and another who graduated from the high school.
Mr. Kaufman, a graduate of Rutgers University, practices law in Highland Park. He has coached children and adults in the township’s recreation programs and has served as president and trustee of the Monroe Township Jewish Center.
He and his wife, Marsha, have two sons, each of whom are alumni of the Monroe school system.
”The candidates are seeking a positive change for the residents of Monroe by reducing taxes; providing more efficient essential services; and by creating a more open and transparent local government that will restore the residents’ faith in local politics and the integrity of local politicians,” states the press release officially announcing the Republican candidates.
The candidates are not lifetime politicians, family members of lifetime politicians or lifetime public employees, states the release.
”The candidates are local residents who wish to serve in local office to make township residents’ lives better through their service to the entire community,” states the release.
Mayor Pucci, Councilwoman Koppel and Mr. Dalina have begun their 2011 campaign following their overwhelming endorsement by the Monroe Township Democratic Committee, states a press release announcing the Democratic candidates.
Mayor Pucci has been mayor of Monroe for 24 years and serves as the executive director of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and a master’s degree in public administration from Rider University. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Ms. Koppel, a lifelong Monroe Township resident and a councilwoman since 2006, is the executive director for Rise, a nonprofit community service partnership in Hightstown. She has a master’s degree in politics and public policy from the Bloustein School, Rutgers University, and a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York.
She serves on the township Planning Board and Cultural Arts Commission and is the mother of three children in the Monroe School District.
Mr. Dalina is the chairman of the Monroe Township zoning board and the Recreation Advisory Committee.
He is the Rutgers University records manager and a lecturer at the university, teaching in the School of Communication, Information and Library Sciences.
He completed his undergraduate studies at Rider University and received his master’s in library science from Rutgers University.
Mr. Dalina and his wife, Susan, have two sons.
”Our team has a unique perspective on the issues that matter most to Monroe Township’s residents,” Mayor Pucci said in the press release. “We are facing uncertain economic times, however, Leslie, Steve and I pledge that we will work to continuing providing outstanding municipal services while controlling our municipal taxes.”
