EDISON — Gaetano “Guy” Gaspari nabbed the Republican nomination for Edison mayor during the June 4 primary election.
Gaspari, who is endorsed by the township’s Republican Party, earned 857 votes — nearly 60 percent of the total — in the contest. Challengers Abrar “Sam” Khan and Peter Cerrato received 433 votes and 179 votes, respectively, according to unofficial results provided by the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office.
An Edison resident since 1963, Gaspari said he hopes to win the four-year mayoral term to revamp government in the township.
“The one-party rule that has existed for so long has created dysfunction and disorder in Edison,” said Gaspari, 66. “My goal is to instill in all our government workers a renewed sense of responsibility, public service and accountability.”
The military veteran has spent years working for municipalities, including Edison, in engineering and planning roles, Gaspari said. He is now Piscataway’s assistant director of public works.
Edison Councilman Thomas Lankey won an uncontested victory to represent the Democratic Party in the race for mayor.
Democratic Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, who failed to secure the party’s support to run in the primary, has said she plans to appear on the ballot as a third-party candidate in the fall.
Trios of Democrats and Republicans won uncontested races to run for three four-year council terms in the general election.
Incumbents Robert Diehl and Alvaro Gomez will represent the Democrats, along with Sapana Shah, who currently sits on the Edison Board of Education.
Mary Lou Resner, Chhavi Dharayan and Abiel Viruet will represent the Republican Party.
The general elections will be held Nov. 5.