CENTRAL JERSEY: Voters go to polls; some new voting locations

UPDATED with new polling locations in Millstone

By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
   In addition to picking a president, U.S. Senator, congressman and county offfce-holders on Tuesday, local voters will also be deciding contested school or municipal government races in Robbinsville, Upper Freehold and Plumsted.
   Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide on Election Day, but some voters may be casting their ballots at different polling stations than usual due to last  week’s storm.
   In Upper Freehold, the voting locations for Districts 2, 3 and 4 have been moved to the Stone Bridge Middle School on Rt. 524. In Millstone, Municipal Clerk Maria Dellasala said voters in districts, 3,4,5 and 6 will now be voting at Millstone Middle School, 5 Dawson Court, not the Primary School.
   There are no polling station changes in Robbinsville, Plumsted or Allentown.
   Running on the Democrat Party line (Column B) with President Barack Obama are U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, and 4th Congressional District hopeful Brian Froelich. On the Republican side, presidential challenger Mitt Romney is at the top of Column A. State Sen. Joe Kyrillos is running on the GOP line against U.S. Senator Menendez and longtime 4th District Congressman Chris Smith is seeking another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
   What follows are summaries of the local races for municipal offices and boards of education in Robbinsville, Millstone, Plumsted and the Upper Freehold Regional District.

Robbinsville

   There are two people running for one unexpired three-year term on the Robbinsville Township Council. The candidates in this nonpartisan contest are Dennis B. Shennard II, of Voelbel Road, and Dave Boyne, of Barto Way.
   There are also five seats on the ballot for the Robbinsville Board of Education, but only one race is contested. Incumbent Keith Kochberg, of Union Street; and newcomer Shaina Ciaccio, of Walden Circle; are both vying for a two-year unexpired term.
   Running unopposed for re-election to full three-year terms are: Vincent Costanza, of Union Street; Flo Gange, of Hibiscus Lane; and Faith Silvestrov, of Walter Road. Matthew O’Grady, of Hillside Drive, is running unopposed for a one-year unexpired term.

Upper Freehold

   There are four candidates vying for two available seats, both for full three-year terms, on the Upper Freehold Township Committee. The Republican incumbents, Stephen Alexander, of Cliffwood Drive; and Bob Faber, of Emleys Hill Road; are being challenged by Democrats Flo Foley, of Mayflower Court; and Robert Goldman, of Potts Road.
   On the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education there are four Upper Freehold seats available, but only three names listed on the ballot.
   Howard Krieger, of Stacey Drive; Rick Smith, of Trotter Way; and Peter Katz, of Revere Court, are all running for full three-year terms.
   Mr. Krieger and Mr. Smith are current board members and Mr. Katz is a newcomer running unopposed for the seat now held by Board of Education Lisa Herzer, who opted not to seek another term.
   No Upper Freehold resident filed a nominating petition to run for the one-year unexpired term that is also on the ballot, setting the stage for that seat to be won by a write-in candidate.

Allentown

   There are two Borough Council seats on the ballot and both are for full four-year terms. Running unopposed are the Republican incumbents Margaret Rose, of Hendrickson Way; and Don Wimer, of Greenfield Drive.
   There are no Allentown seats on the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education on the ballot this year.

Millstone

   In Millstone Township, Republican incumbents Nancy Grbelja, of Agress Road; and Gary B. Dorfman, of Chadwick Road, are running unopposed for their seats on the Township Committee. Both seats are for three-year terms.
   The Board of Education election for three open seats is also uncontested. The candidates are Patrick Whalen, Amy Jacobson, and Neil Schloss. All are incumbents except Mr. Schloss, who is running for the seat now held by Board of Education President Kevin McGovern, who decided not to seek another term.

Plumsted

   There are four people vying for three seats on the all-Republican Plumsted Township Committee. Three of the seats are for full three-year terms and one seat is for a one-year unexpired term.
   Incumbents Erick Sorchik, of Hawkin Road; Jack Trotta, of High Bridge Road; and Democratic challenger Mitch Geier are running for the two full-term seats. Incumbent Herb Marinari, of Brynmore Road, is running unopposed for the unexpired one-year term.
   On the Plumsted Board of Education there are four incumbent candidates running unopposed. Jon Hague, of Bobbi’s Terrace; Christopher Probasco, of Ivins Drive; and Barbara Wig, of Bobbi’s Terrace, are seeking re-election to full three-year terms. Leslie Septor, of Sanders Lane, is seeking election to a one-year unexpired term.