By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The seat left by former Councilwoman Gail Doran has been filled.
Hightstown resident Seth Kurs was appointed by the council at a special meeting at the Hightstown-East Windsor Historical Society on Monday.
Mr. Kurs won the three-person vote to take the seat until November.
Three candidates, including Mr. Kurs, former councilman and current council candidate Walter Sikorski and former councilman and borough business administrator Mike Theokas interviewed during an open session.
Discussions were then held in a closed session because of an agenda change and because the town attorney was not present.
The new councilman’s term will run until the general election on Nov. 4.
Ms. Doran resigned from her post earlier this month.
”I am excited and looking forward to it,” said Mr. Kurs who is an attorney practicing out of East Windsor.
Mr. Sikorski declined to comment on Kurs win, and calls to Mr. Theokas were not immediately returned.
Mr. Kurs has been a long time resident and his children are in school in the district, and said he has a long history of community service in the area and formerly served as the East Windsor’s municipal prosecutor.
The Democratic Committee can nominate either the incumbent councilman or a different candidate after the June 3 primary election.
Either would run for the un-expired one-year term lasting through 2015.
”In reality, I only have time until November so it’s certainly an extremely abbreviated time on council,” said Mr. Kurs who plans on running for the longer term. “So I don’t know how much could be achieved on such short amount of time , but I hope to direct the borough in the right direction and help obtain financial stability.
”I think all three candidates bring a number of strengths and strong experiences,” said Mr. Kurs. “I think they thought for this particular time, I met the borough’s needs.”

