By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
EAST WINDSOR — Township Democrats, including three incumbents and one newcomer, won nearly 64 percent of the vote Election Day.
The four seats won are for four-year terms.
Voters cast 11,006 votes for the Democratic candidates whereas voters cast 6,227 votes for the Republican candidates.
”We appreciate the trust placed in us by the East Windsor voters,” said Mayor Janice Mironov, who is serving her 16th consecutive year as mayor.
In total, 17,240 votes were cast for Township Council candidates, including the results from absentee ballots.
And Tuesday, while the three incumbent candidates — Mayor Mironov, Deputy Mayor Marc Lippman and Councilman Peter Yeager — collectively kept their seats, newcomer John Zoller also was voted in on the Democratic ticket.
They ran against Republicans T.J. Berdzik, Steve Commer, Robert Ertel and John Guarniere.
Mayor Mironov garnered 3,032 votes, or 17.59 percent, Tuesday.
”We thank the people of East Windsor for their very strong expression of support and confidence in our entire team and in our record of service,” Mayor Mironov said. “We will continue to work hard to provide professional responsive government, to maintain fiscally conservative policies and to get things done for the residents of our community.”
Looking ahead, the mayor explained the township would continue to work for the preservation of open space and farmland as well as for the expansion of recreational opportunities and facilities, among other policies.
Deputy Mayor Lippman, who was first elected to the Township Council in 1995, garnered 2,682 votes, or 15.56 percent.
”I want to thank the residents of East Windsor for supporting our team,” Deputy Mayor Lippman said Wednesday. “This administration has always focused on getting things done and making East Windsor an exceptional place to live. We will continue working hard, being fiscally responsible, and I look forward to the next four years.”
Mr. Yeager, who was appointed to the council in March, garnered 2,658 votes, or 15.42 percent.
”I am certainly honored and humbled by the results and am thankful for all the support our team received during the election,” Councilman Yeager said. “I look forward to continuing my work with the mayor, council and our residents to make sure East Windsor remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Mr. Zoller garnered 2,634 votes, or 15.28 percent, in his first run for public office.
Each Republican newcomer candidate received less then 10 percent of the total vote Election Day.
Mr. Guarniere received 1,611 votes or 9.34 percent. Mr. Ertel received 1,597 votes or 9.26 percent. Mr. Commer received 1,479 votes or 8.58 percent. Mr. Berdzik received 1,540 votes or 8.93 percent.
”One of my former rowing coaches use to say, win or lose, the day after the race, you begin preparing for the next one,” Mr. Berdzik said Wednesday. “If there is one thing that we’ve seen from the VanHandle family’s dealings with the council is the need for an independent voice to keep an eye on the local political machine.”
As reported last week, the VanHandle family, of Cedarville Farms, is in a dispute with the township regarding the family’s wish to sell the land to a solar panel company.
However, a East Windsor Township Council resolution, passed June 24, prevents productive farmland from being turned into grid-supply solar facilities.
Additionally, the farmland, which is composed of four family-owned properties, is zoned for rural agriculture usage as previously reported in the Herald.
According to East Windsor’s zoning ordinance, the solar panel facility is not a permitted usage for the farmland under its agriculture zoning, Mayor Mironov said Wednesday.
