HIGHTSTOWN: Deadline for primary elections nears

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   HIGHTSTOWN — There are two three-year Borough Council seats opening up to voters this November. The New Jersey primary elections are set for June 5.
   Candidates have until April 2 to file to run in his or her party’s primary for Borough Council.
   In East Windsor, “There are no Township Council seats up for election in 2012,” said Municipal Clerk Cindy Dye on March 27.
   In Hightstown, Councilwoman Gail Doran, 60, a high school physics teacher, filed on March 26 as a candidate in the Democratic primary for a three-year seat on Borough Council.
   She won a one-year unexpired term in November, replacing the vacancy left by Dimitri Musing, who resigned from council last spring. Mike Vanderbeck was appointed to the position and held it prior to the November election.
   ”I was elected and sworn in November 2011 to fill the remaining year of an unexpired term,” Ms. Doran told the Herald on Thursday. “After only four months on council and (much) effort to come up to speed as quickly as possible, it is a logical step to run for the full term and follow through on what I have started.”
   Councilwoman Doran was victorious against Republican candidate George Serrano in November. She received 520 votes, or 51.08 percent, while Mr. Serrano received 496 votes, or 48.72 percent, according to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office.
   ”I came to council having spent five years as an active participant in the public portion of meetings,” Ms. Doran said. “I believe in understanding issues thoroughly before acting and I have the insight to ask fundamental questions. As a scientist and a high school teacher, I am a skilled communicator, organized in my approach and deadline oriented.”
   She noted that five out of the six Borough Council members, as well as Mayor Steven Kirson, are all in their first term in office.
   ”I have been impressed by the spirit of cooperation as we work hard to govern in the aftermath of mother nature’s wrath and FEMA’s painfully slow assistance,” Ms. Doran said.
   Of Hurricane Irene, she said, “In the very near future, we will have to tackle the re-establishment of a Borough Hall for Hightstown after the disastrous flooding from Hurricane Irene. I would like this to be done with the knowledge and consent of as many residents as care to be involved. The event can’t be altered, but the outcome can be positive for us if we work together.”
   She said one of her long term goals is to make sure that Hightstown is in a position to consider opportunities for regional cooperation.
   ”She’s an experienced person, having served since November, and brings a unique perspective to the race,” said Walter Sikorski, chairman of the Hightstown Democratic Municipal Committee, on Wednesday.
   Council President Lawrence “Larry” Quattrone, who is serving his consecutive 13th year on Borough Council, announced earlier this year that he is running for a sixth term.
   Mr. Quattrone, a Democrat, filed a petition on March 5 with Borough Clerk Debra Sopronyi to secure his spot in the June 5 Democratic primary.
   ”Larry has served diligently for many, many years and his experience on the council will be an asset,” said Mr. Sikorski, previously in the Herald. “His knowledge of the institutional history of the council is quite important.”
   Mr. Quattrone, 69, said he first ran for a one-year unexpired term in 1998. He won that race. He won his first three-year term a year later.
   It was unclear as of press time if any Republicans or Independents have filed with the Hightstown’s Clerks Office for the upcoming primary elections.