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16th District: Dems square off in 16th primary

By Charles W. Kim, Packet Group
   Two Democrats are vying for nomination in the race for an Assembly seat in the 16th District.
   Elementary art teacher Marie Corfield of Flemington and Princeton Township Committeewoman Sue Nemeth will face-off for the party’s nod June 5.
   The election will determine who goes up against GOP Assemblywoman Donna Simon in November.
   Ms. Simon was appointed to the seat this winter following the death of longtime legislator Peter Biondi of Hillsborough.
   Mr. Biondi, who held the seat for many years, died days after winning re-election last fall.
   Ms. Corfield and fellow Democrat, South Brunswick Councilman Joe Camorata, lost to Mr. Biondi and GOP challenger Jack Ciatarelli last fall.
   Due to Mr. Biondi’s death, the seat will be up for election again this year to fill the unexpired term, and then again next year during the normal assembly election cycle.
   Ms. Corfield and Ms. Nemeth have spent the winter and spring campaigning for the primary, attending several debates in the towns covered by the newly formed district.
   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.
   Both candidates said they are critical of Gov. Chris Christie’s policies dealing with employees of the public sector.
   During a debate in Princeton Borough earlier this year, both candidates said they work in the public sector and believe any reform regarding benefits, pensions or sick time compensation should be made at the bargaining table and not by legislative or gubernatorial edict.
   They also both said they opposed the practice of “fracking” which uses high-pressure liquid to break through levels of rock underground in order to get to a cache of natural gas.
   Both also said that a top priority, once elected to the seat, would be to create jobs.