By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Local voters will go to the polls on Tuesday to choose municipal, county and state representatives — including school board members.
Princeton voters will choose two members of council and three members of the school board on Election Day.
The council race pits incumbent Democrats Lance Liverman and Heather H. Howard against Republican challengers Lynn Irving and Kelly DiTosto.
On the school board side, incumbent Patrick Sullivan, Elizabeth Kalber Baglio, Dafna Kendal and Robert Dodge are running for three seats.
The polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In Montgomery Township, there is no contest for two seats on Township Committee, which carry three-year terms. The Republican Party candidates are incumbent Township Committeewoman Christine Madrid, who is the present mayor, and her running mate, Mark Conforti. The Democratic Party did not put up candidates for office.
There is, however, a contested race for four seats on the Montgomery Township Board of Education. There are seven candidates for three seats — Paul Blodgett, Richard Cavalli, Minkou “Minkyo” Chenette, Shannon Devine, Charles F. Jacey Jr., Ranjana Rao and Tommy L. Riggs. The term is for three years.
There is also a race to fill an unexpired term on the school board between incumbent school board member Dale Huff and challenger Phyllis Bursh. The unexpired term is for two years.
In West Windsor Township, two slates of candidates are vying to fill three seats on Township Council, which carry four-year terms.
The Community First slate consists of incumbent Councilman George Borek and his running mates, Ayesha Krishnan Hamilton and Alison H. Miller. The Your Voice, Our Commitment slate is made up of incumbent Councilman Hemant Marathe and his running mates, Gerald Halloran and Virginia Manzari.
West Windsor voters also will be asked to choose between incumbent school board member Michele Kaish and challenger Jordon DeGroote, who are both seeking a seat on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education. The term is for three years.
In Plainsboro Township, there is no contest for two seats on the Township Committee. Incumbent Township Committeemen Neil J. Lewis and Nuran Nabi are seeking re-election. The Republican Party did not field any candidates. The term is for three years.
There is also no contest for two seats on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education. Incumbent school board members Anthony Fleres and Rachel Juliana are seeking re-election. The term is for three years.
In Lawrence Township, incumbent Township Council members Cathleen M. Lewis, David C. Maffei and Michael S. Powers — all Democrats — are running unopposed. The Republican Party did not nominate a slate of candidates. The term is for four years.
There is a contested race to fill out the unexpired term of the late Councilman Stephen Brame. The Democratic Party nominated Christopher Bobbitt and the Republican Party nominated Robert M. Bostock. The unexpired term is for two years.
At the Lawrence Township Board of Education, there is no contest for the three available seats. Incumbent school board members JoAnn L. Groeger and Kevin Van Hise are seeking re-election, along with newcomer Joyce Scott. The term is for three years.
In South Brunswick Township, there is no election for Township Council.
There is a contested election at the South Brunswick Township Board of Education, where five candidates are running for three seats — incumbent school board members Barry Nathanson, Stephen F. Parker and Peter St. Vincent, and challengers Sonia C. Bhutra and Anilkumar C. Patel. The term is for three years.
At the county level, voters in Princeton, West Windsor and Lawrence townships will be asked to chose from among candidates for Mercer County Executive, Mercer County Clerk and the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Incumbent County Executive Brian M. Hughes of Princeton, a Democrat, is facing a challenge from Republican Party nominee Lisa Richford of Hamilton. The term is for four years.
Incumbent County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Party nominee Susan Bagley. The term is for five years.
And incumbent Freeholders Ann M. Cannon, Pasquale “Pat” Colavita Jr. and Samuel T. Frisby Sr., all Democrats, are facing a challenge by Republican Party nominees Anthony “Tony” Davis, Jason Lee DeFrancesco and Ira Marks. The term is for three years.
In Middlesex County, voters in Plainsboro and South Brunswick townships will vote on candidates for County Clerk and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Middlesex County Clerk Elaine M. Flynn, a Democrat, is facing Republican Party nominee Alex Barletta. The term is for five years.
At the Board of Chosen Freeholders, incumbent Democratic Freeholders H. James Polos and Ronald G. Rios are facing opposition from Republican Party candidates Jose I. Alonso and Sharon D. Hubberman. The term is for three years.
And in Somerset County, incumbent Surrogate Frank Bruno, a Republican, is squaring off against Democratic Party nominee Christian Mastondrea for a five-year term.
Incumbent Somerset County Freeholders Mark Caliguire and Patrick Scaglione, who are Republicans, are being challenged by Democratic Party nominees Patrick O’Connell and Brian Regan. The term is for three years.
And at the top of the ticket, voters in all townships will choose two members for the State Assembly. The candidates vary, depending on the legislative district, but the term is for two years.
Plainsboro Township is in the 14th Legislative District, which pits incumbent Democratic Party Assemblymen Daniel R. Benson and Wayne P. DeAngelo against Republicans David C. Jones and Philip R. Kaufman and the Green Party ticket’s Steven Welzer and Joann Cousin..
West Windsor and Lawrence townships are in the 15th Legislative District. Incumbent Assembly members Reed Gusciora and Elizabeth Maher Muoi, both Democrats, will be facing Republican Party nominees Anthony L. Giordano and Peter Mendonez Jr.
Princeton, Montgomery and South Brunswick are in the 16th Legislative District. Incumbent Assembly members Jack M. Ciattarelli and Donna M. Simon, both Republicans, are being challenged by Democratic Party candidates Maureen Vella and Andrew Zwicker.
Staff writer Philip Sean Curran contributed to this article.
