Candidates vie for local voters

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   Candidates across the nation — as well as in East Windsor and Hightstown — are gearing up for Nov. 6, Election Day.
   Four East Windsor candidates are running for three-year seats on the Board of Education, where three three-year seats are open. Township residents will have the option to vote for former board member Alice Weisman, as well as incumbents Paul Connolly and Kennedy Paul or newcomer Lilia Gobaira.
   In Hightstown, residents have the option of voting for incumbent Peter John Bussone to fill an unexpired two-year term on the school board or opting to jot down a write-in candidate.
   For the Borough Council in Hightstown, Republicans Denise Hansen and George Serrano are facing off against Democratic incumbents Lawrence Quattrone and Gail Doran. There are two three-year terms available.
   Candidates for the U.S. Senate include Democratic incumbent Robert Menendez against Republican Joe Kyrillos and Green Party candidate Ken Wolski.
   Additionally, there are several other candidates running for U.S. Senate including Robert “Turk” Turkavage on the Responsibility, Fairness, Integrity ticket; Eugene Martin Lavergne; Daryl Mikell Brooks on the Reform Nation ticket; J. David Dranikoff; Kenneth R. Kaplan under the Libertarian Party; Gregory Pason under Socialist Party USA; Gwen Diakos for Jersey Strong Independents; and Inder “Andy” Soni for America First.
   For a two-year seat with the House of Representatives, Republican Eric Beck will be facing off against incumbent Rep. Rush Holt, a Democrat, for the 12th Congressional District. Running against Mr. Beck and Rep. Holt are candidates Jack FreudEnheim, an Independent, and Truth Vision Hope party member Kenneth Cody.
   Running for the Board of Chosen Freeholders in Mercer County are Democrats Ann Cannon, Pasquale “Pat” Colavita Jr. and Samuel Frisby against Republicans David Maher, Richard Urbani, and David Walsh. There are three three-year Freeholder terms up this year.
   And on Election Day, President Barack Obama will face off against Republican challenger Mitt Romney across the nation.
   There are also several third-party candidates vying for the position of American president, including Jill Stein for the Green Party, Libertarian Garry Johnson and Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party, among other candidates.