FREEHOLD — Democrats George Schnurr and Michael DiBenedetto will maintain their seats on the Borough Council following their re-election to Freehold Borough’s governing body in the Nov. 8 election.
Democrat Nolan Higgins was elected to his first four-year term as mayor. Higgins ran unopposed and received 1,332 votes. He will take office in January.
Higgins, 54, who owns and operates the Higgins Memorial Home, Center Street, will succeed Michael Wilson, who has been mayor since 1985. Wilson did not seek reelection this year.
Higgins said he is “very excited” to start taking on the responsibilities of his new position.
“We are looking forward to the new term and to reforming our committees and boards and asking members to serve the town again,” he said.
Schnurr and DiBenedetto turned back a challenge from Republicans Don Clayton and Marianne Earle in the race for two three-year terms on the council.
Democrats will maintain a 5-1 majority on the governing body in 2012.
DiBenedetto and Schnurr won re-election with 954 and 855 votes, respectively. Earle received 753 votes and Clayton received 700 votes.
DiBenedetto, 52, who will begin his fifth term on the council, said he is happy to be able to serve the borough for another three years.
“We were excited that there was a competitive race this year, which shows how much people are interested and willing to serve the town,” he said. “Unfortunately, during the campaign I wish some people would have used their energies to be a part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.”
DiBenedetto said he believes that over the next three years the country and each community will have “tremendous hurdles to overcome.” He said he is glad to serve with Schnurr again. He called his fellow councilman a “tireless warrior” for the borough.
DiBenedetto, the owner-operator of Joe’s Barber Shop, South Street, said he is looking forward to serving with Higgins, adding that, “I have served with Nolan Higgins in the fire department and I know how he runs his business. He is professional in all aspects of his work.”
Schnurr, 54, was appointed to the council in 2008 and subsequently won a full term. In regard to the Nov. 8 election, he said, “I am humbled by the voters’ confidence in Mayor-elect Higgins, Councilman DiBenedetto and myself, and overwhelmed by the support we received.
“What residents have told us is that they paid less attention to criticisms by our opponents in their campaign and more to the work they have seen the majority on council do on behalf of the residents of Freehold Borough. I believe the negative campaign ads by our opponents turned people off,” Schnurr said.
Clayton, 41, congratulated DiBenedetto and Schnurr and wished them well in their council positions.
“It was a rough race and it was an experience I will never forget,” he said. “I am proud of what we did. We brought up some issues that residents felt needed to be addressed. Our hope is that these issues of concern to residents will be addressed.”
Earle, 73, sought elective office for the first time. She said she would use the campaign as a learning experience.
“I am encouraged knowing we had a very positive and informative campaign,” she said. Earle wished Higgins a “successful four years” in his new role as mayor.
“It is my hope that our returning candidates with their collective 20 years of service can finally address the fact that Freehold Borough has some deep-seated problems and that they will begin to address them.
“As we educated ourselves in preparation for this campaign, we became aware that there are many issues plaguing our community and that these issues must be dealt with if we are to survive and move forward,” Earle said.
She thanked the people who supported her and Clayton in their campaign.
“And let’s keep our enthusiasm high and keep the ball rolling,” she told those people, “because we are not going to go away.”