JAMESBURG — The makeup of the Borough Council is in the balance for this year’s general election.
With two council seats and the mayoralty up for grabs on Nov. 3, Jamesburg could see a new party take power in borough hall.
For this year’s mayoral race, incumbent Democratic Mayor Marlene Lowande seeks a second four-year term as she faces a challenge by Republican Councilman Thomas Gibbons.
For Lowande, keeping the borough debtfree, as well as promoting an ever expanding downtown, is part of her platform.
“[It’s about] being fiscally responsible to our residents, which I feel we have been and will continue to be. Jamesburg is debt-free, and that is from Mayor LaMantia and setting a goal and reaching it,” said Lowande, who is the first female mayor in the borough’s history.
In terms of major accomplishments, she pointed to how the borough has handled financial difficulties during her time in office.
“When facing a financial crisis, [we] sold our cell tower lease for over $600,000, securing grant money for curbs and sidewalks and road repairs as to not burden the taxpayers,” she said.
She also credits her administration with opening the Recreation Center for James- burg and hiring part-time employees to fill positions once held by full-time employees.
“None of these things would be possible without a great town full of volunteers and ideas — in general, respecting the quality of life in Jamesburg,” she said.
For the challenger, bringing solar power to the borough is high on his list of changes Gibbons said he would bring to town.
“We feel strongly that our idea of putting solar on the roof of the schools and other public buildings in town, it’s debt-free and will provide a cost saving,” he said.
“The solar companies have their own financing, so the town doesn’t have to go into debt to fund it. The financing includes roof repairs and the installation of the solar panels, and they will give us up to a 30 percent reduction in energy bills over a 15-year period,” he continued, adding that the superintendent and district are on board.
Despite being in the minority, according to Gibbons, he has brought solar power in the borough to the attention of the council.
Gibbons and his Republican team are also running on cleaning up the Manalapan Brook.
“Any big storm that happens, we’re going to have a flood due to the silt built up in there. It requires dredging,” said Gibbons, calling an attempt by the council to clean up the brook only a “Band-Aid” for the complicated problem.
Council members Thomas Busco and Sandy Sussman will also try to fend off Republican challengers — Samuel Lawrence, who serves on the Board of Education, and Joseph Scillieri — for two three-year terms.
The Republicans are hoping that their five-point productivity plan — supporting the school district, installing solar panels on borough buildings and schools, downtown redevelopment, Manalapan Brook flooding and supporting the boroughs first responders — will help put them ahead in next month’s election.
For the Jamesburg GOP, this is a chance to change the balance of power on the council, on which the Democrats have a 4-2 advantage.
In the event Gibbons wins, the Jamesburg GOP would be able to select a replacement for the seat. If all goes according to plan for the Jamesburg GOP, Republicans would flip the majority on council.
An outright victory for the Democrats would see them hold on to their current control.
Gibbons is currently one of two Republicans on council, the other being Shannon Spillane. The two were elected to the council in 2013.