For first time, school board hopefuls will file nominating petitions in June
By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
Only incumbents in Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell filed petitions in April to run in the primary elections Tuesday (June 5), when polls are open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
As of the April filing deadline, there were no Nov. 6 general election races for any seats in the three towns.
— In Lambertville, Democrat David M. Del Vecchio, of York Street, is seeking another three-year term as mayor. No Republican filed. Mr. Del Vecchio has been mayor since January 1992.
— In Stockton, where there are two open seats (three-year terms) on Borough Council, two incumbents filed: Democrat Aaron Lipsen, of Ferry Street, and Republican Nic Messina, of Church Street.
— In West Amwell, only one seat (three-year term) on the Township Committee is up for grabs. It is held by incumbent Republican George A. Fisher, of Brunswick Pike. He is serving this year as mayor.
NEW THIS YEAR for the three towns will be school board elections on Nov. 6 (general election day).
But, primary election day (June 5) at 4 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions for open seats on Lambertville Public School, Stockton Borough School, South Hunterdon Regional High School and West Amwell Elementary school boards.
Residents of Lambertville, West Amwell and Stockton who intend to run for these seats are required to obtain 10 signatures of qualified registers voters in the district they are seeking to represent. These petitions must be filed with the Hunterdon County clerk’s office, 71 Main St., Hall of Records Building, P.O. Box 2900, Flemington, 08822-2900.
Thirteen school board seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 6 election.
• For South Hunterdon Regional High School, four seats are involved. Three are for three-year terms and are held now by Robert Campbell (Lambertville), Laurie Weinstein (Lambertville) and Boyd Hartpence (West Amwell). The fourth is a one-year term and is held by Gregg Rackin (Stockton).
• For Lambertville Public School’s board, three seats (three-year terms) are open. Those holding those seats are Derek Roseman, Grant Miller and John Woznicki
• For West Amwell Township Elementary School’s board, four seats are open. Three are for three-year terms and are held now by Peter Gasparro, John Dupuis and Andrea Little. The fourth, now held by Leila Rice, is for a two-year unexpired term.
• For Stockton Public School’s board, two seats (three-year terms) are open. They are held now by Jim Gallagher and Diane Walker-Torkelson.
For seats on the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, candidates are (vote for two — three-year terms): Democrats — Andrea M. Bonette, Road, Hopewell, and Robert Darmstadt, Beavers Road Califon; Republicans — Matthew Holt, Georges Place, Clinton, and John King, Cherryville-Stanton Station Road, Flemington.
Stockton Borough is the only town in The Beacon’s coverage area that has a state level (General Assembly) column on June 5 ballots.
Stockton is now part of the state’s 16th Legislative District (also includes Branchburg Township, Delaware Township, Flemington Borough, Hillsborough Township, Manville Borough, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, Raritan Township, Readington Township, Rocky Hill Borough, Somerville Borough and South Brunswick Township).
So, voters will help pick Nov. 6 candidates for an unexpired term. Republican Donna Simon (incumbent, who replaced the late Peter Biondi) is unopposed and will face the June 5 winner of the Democratic primary. Candidates are: Marie Corfield, of Flemington, and Sue Nemeth of Princeton. The Nov. 6 winner will finish the remainder of Mr. Biondi’s term.
U.S House of Representatives — 7th Congressional District (all of Hunterdon County now falls within this district).
Vote for one (two-year term).
— Two-term Congressman Leonard Lance, of Clinton Township, is facing a challenge in the June 5 Republican primary for Congress in the 7th District, which includes Hunterdon County’s Lambertville, Stockton and East and West Amwell.
David Larsen, of Tewksbury Township, is his challenger in the GOP primary.
— The June 5 winner will face 11-year state Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula, of Franklin Township (Somerset), who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The Nov. 6 winner will take office in January 2013. (See related story in this week’s edition).
U.S. Senate — vote for one (six-year term):
— Democrat — Robert Menendez, Newark (unopposed).
— Republicans — Joe “Rudy” Rullo, Beachwood; David Douglas, East Brunswick; Joe Kyrillos, Middletown; and Bader G. Qarmout, Newton.
U.S. President — vote for one (four-year term):
— Democrat — Barack Obama (incumbent), Chicago, Illinois.
— Republicans — Newt Gingrich, Arlington, Virginia; Ron Paul, Springfield, Virginia; Mitt Romney, Belmont, Massachusetts; and Rick Santorum, Great Falls, Virginia.
Just to the right of the column that lists party nominees for president is one that lists delegates for each would-be presidential candidate. Remember to check the box that goes with your choice for presidential nominee.
ACCORDING TO THE NJ League of Women Voters, voters may vote for candidates running only in the political party in which the voter is registered.
Voters who have not registered for a particular political party and are unaffiliated may declare their party affiliation at the polls the day of primary election (June 5).
June 4 at 3 p.m. is the deadline for applying in-person for a Vote-by-Mail ballot at the county clerk’s office .
For further voter information, call the League of Women Voters of New Jersey at 609-394-3303.