Incumbent wins by a 2 to 1 margin
By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
CRANBURY — By a 2 to 1 margin, Democratic incumbent and current Mayor Susan Goetz trounced her opponent Tuesday night to retain her seat on the Township Committee, according to unofficial election results provided by Township Clerk Kathleen Cunningham.
County-level politicos and township committeemen from both sides of the aisle were among those keeping watch with Mayor Goetz and Independent challenger Joseph Buonavolonta, as they waited for the township’s three districts to finish reporting in the downstairs Senior Room at Town Hall.
Ms. Cunningham stood at the center of the small, loosely assembled circle, reading the numbers aloud from curling ribbons of voting machine tape, as pencils around the room scrawled in time with her voice, recording wins and losses.
According to the election results, Mayor Goetz and Mr. Buonavolonta both received the strongest showing of support in district two, with Mayor Goetz receiving 215 votes to Mr. Buonavolonta’s 130. Voters in district one cast 214 ballots for Mayor Goetz and 95 for Mr. Buonavolonta and district three saw 185 votes going to Mayor Goetz and 76 going to Mr. Buonavolonta.
Overall, Mayor Goetz received 614 votes and Mr. Buonavolonta received 301.
When asked how she felt following her win, Mayor Goetz said she felt a sense of relief.
"Very relieved, I was more nervous this time than last time," Mayor Goetz said of her second term win. "This time it was a referendum (on me). I’ve been working real hard for the last three years."
She said that she was really pleased at the results because the people seem to know that she is doing a good job.
At the conclusion of the results reading, Mr. Buonavolonta expressed surprise at the outcome.
"I didn’t expect this," he said, after shaking hands with Mayor Goetz. "I thought it would be a little bit closer."
Despite his loss, Mr. Buonavolonta said that he had a great time campaigning this year.
"I love the town of Cranbury (and) I love the people," he said. "I hope Susan does the right thing for the taxpayers."
Far from dwelling on this year’s outcome, Mr. Buonavolonta said that he is already looking forward to running against Committeemen David Cook and Jay Taylor, whose terms on the Township Committee expire Dec. 31, 2015.
"Thanks to all my voters and I’ll give it a better shot next year," he said.
By overwhelming majorities, township voters approved the two state public questions up for consideration.
Pending constitutional amendment, the courts will be allowed, in some situations, to order pre-trial detention of a person involved in a criminal case, without a chance for the person to post bail. The amendment will take effect on Jan. 1, 2017, according to the Middlesex County Clerk’s office.
A constitutional amendment was also approved to dedicate state funds for open space, farmland and historic preservation and to change existing dedication for water programs, underground storage tanks and hazardous waste cleanups.
According to the Middlesex County Clerk’s office, four percent of the Corporation Business Tax is presently dedicated to help pay for environmental programs. The amendment raises the amount dedicated from four percent to six percent, beginning July 1, 2019. It also changes some of the programs funded by the current dedication, beginning July 1, 2015.
Additionally, the two county public questions were also approved by Cranbury voters, although by narrower majorities. They authorized the establishment of the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund and an increase in funding to support women’s health care programs.
Absentee ballots were not included in the election results, Ms. Cunningham said.
According to the election results, 1,125 of Cranbury’s 2,863 registered voters came out to vote on Tuesday.
According to Ms. Cunningham, all election results are considered unofficial until they are certified by the Middlesex County Clerk.