GOP rift leads to primary race in Old Bridge

By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

 State Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex) discusses his decision to invoke his authority as county party chairman in overriding Old Bridge Republican Committee nominations during a meeting on April 2.  KATHY CHANG/STAFF State Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex) discusses his decision to invoke his authority as county party chairman in overriding Old Bridge Republican Committee nominations during a meeting on April 2. KATHY CHANG/STAFF Republican Party candidates for the Old Bridge Township Council will face off in a primary election as a result of the county party chairman’s decision to override the nominations of the local party committee.

At an April 2 meeting of Old Bridge Republicans, state Sen. Sam Thompson, chair of the Middlesex County Republican Committee, was asked to justify his decision to place incumbent Councilman-at-Large Brian Cahill’s name on the ballot for the Nov. 3 municipal election.

He also had removed incumbent Councilwoman at-Large Debbie Walker, the party’s first choice, from the ticket.

Thompson told the local party members that as county chairman — by state law — he has the authority to decide who will be on the Republican Party line in the general election on Nov. 3.

Party members at the meeting demanded Thompson explain his decision.

Thompson said his decision was based on putting forth to the voters of Old Bridge a ballot with the strongest party ticket.

He said he believes Cahill has done a good job as a councilman and that having his name on the ballot would make for a strong Republican ticket.

“In my estimation, he is the strongest for the ticket, which enables a stronger ballot,” Thompson said.

A week earlier, on March 24, the Old Bridge Republican Committee held screenings for mayoral and council candidates.

The committee unanimously voted to support incumbent Mayor Owen Henry’s run for a second term, according to Republican Chairman Art Haney.

However, during the vote for council seats, Cahill received only 18 votes, indicating he did not have party support to run for a third term.

Cahill said in an interview that he felt he was the “victim of a smear campaign” during the committee screening, where he said there was an argument over “party issues.” At the screening, Walker received the most support with 55 out of 56 votes; incumbent Councilman-at-Large James Anderson received 50 votes; and newcomer Anita Greenberg received 45 votes.

On March 30, Haney said Thompson informed him he had overturned the municipal committee’s nominations, taking Walker off the county party ticket and placing Cahill on the ticket.

Walker, who is seeking a second term, said in an interview that she received the most votes and called for Thompson to justify his decision to take her off the ticket.

Both Cahill and Walker said they have supported Henry’s administration.

The rift was evident at the April 2 meeting, when some of those present questioned whether there was any point in voting for candidates, as well as whether there was any justification for Thompson’s decision to override the local committee’s vote.

Some put up posters in protest and in support of Walker.

Thompson acknowledged that his decision is controversial, reading a detractor’s strongly worded letter that termed his actions “disgraceful,” but declining to reveal who had written the letter.

The senator noted that he did not know there would be four candidates screened for the three council positions.

“I did not make my decision that night,” he said.

Thompson said that while he has the authority to select who is on the GOP ticket, it is the Old Bridge voters who make the ultimate decision regarding who serves on the council.

Party members at the GOP meeting said they were unaware that the county chairman could override committee nominations before casting their votes on March 24.

Greenberg, who was party chairwoman in Old Bridge for eight years before she made the decision to screen for a council seat, called Thompson’s move to override the committee nominations “very rare,” especially on the municipal level.

“The law does allow it,” she said. However, she said in her 20-year experience in politics, the county chair rarely meddles in municipal politics unless it is warranted.

Greenberg said in this case, she does not see any justification for the county chair to intervene in the municipal party nomination process.

“Debbie Walker is very well-known and respected in the community,” she said. “This was not warranted.”

Haney said the situation is unusual, adding that county chairs generally limit their roles to county races.

“It may have happened in the 1980s; however, it hasn’t occurred in Old Bridge to my knowledge,” he said.

Haney said Walker’s name would appear alone under the Old Bridge Republican Party line, while the Middlesex County Republican Party line will have Cahill’s name on it for the primary race on June 2.