PRINCETON: Nemeth gets local nod

   Assembly candidate Sue Nemeth of Princeton won the endorsement of the local Democratic Party group Sunday night.
   Ms. Nemeth defeated fellow candidate Marie Corfield, 56-16, after a debate between them at a meeting of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization at the Suzanne Patterson Building.
   Seventy-five ballots were cast in the polling, giving Ms. Nemeth more than the 60 percent plurality the organization requires for its endorsement, said member Dan Preston.
   Earlier in the evening, the group endorsed all other non-local office Democratic Party candidates by affirmation.
   U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt were also on hand at the event to ask members for their support and to support other Democratic candidates, including President Barack Obama.
   In the only contested race, Ms. Nemeth and Ms. Corfield debated issues brought up by members of the approximately 130-person audience at the public forum.
   Ms. Corfield, an elementary school art teacher, ran unsuccessfully for the Assembly seat with South Brunswick Councilman Joe Camorata in November.
   The pair lost to GOP incumbent Peter Biondi and challenger Jack Ciatarelli by a margin of around 2,000 votes.
   The reconfigured 16th District covers Branchburg Township, Hillsborough Township, Manville Borough, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township, Rocky Hill Borough and Somerville Borough in Somerset County; Delaware Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township, Readington Township and Stockton Borough in Hunterdon County; Princeton Borough and Princeton Township in Mercer County; and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County.
   ”Joe and I almost made history. We had the Republicans on the ropes,” Ms. Corfield said. “I am battle-ready.”
   Mr. Biondi, however, died just two days after the election and was replaced by the GOP with former Readington Committeewoman Donna Simon.
   Ms. Simon will have to stand for election in November against the winner of the Democratic primary between Ms. Nemeth and Ms. Corfield for the remainder of Mr. Biondi’s term.
   Ms. Nemeth served as deputy mayor in Princeton Township and called for an “open” convention process in each of the four counties the new district represents.
   ”It is very important that we do not stifle competition in this district,” Ms. Nemeth said. “We don’t need a fractured Democratic Party; we need a united party.”
   Both candidates said they work in the public sector and they believe any reform regarding benefits, pensions or sick time compensation should be made at the bargaining table and not by legislative or gubernatorial edict.
   ”(Sick pay) does get abused and there should be reform,” said Ms. Nemeth. “But I believe in collective bargaining and not by imposing it from the executive office.”
   Ms. Corfield said she agreed with her opponent and that the negotiating system gives the power to deal with the problem to local governments.
   ”For the governor to try and legislate that from his office is stripping public employees of one more piece of their collective bargaining.” said Ms. Corfield.
   Ms. Corfield also said that those who abuse the system are mostly the executives and managers and not the rank-and-file workers.
   Both candidates expressed opposition to the practice of “fracking” where companies use liquid to break through layers of rock underground to free up new caches of natural gas.
   ”We should ban it,” said Ms. Nemeth.
   On jobs, both candidates said it would be a priority after they take office in Trenton. They agreed the state should help create jobs by rebuilding infrastructure and by providing education and training for those displaced.
   Both candidates will meet in the Democratic Party primary on June 5.