Continuing the focus on the annual budget, capital investment, economic development and service improvements are the top priorities for Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry as he moves on from the Nov. 3 election.
Henry, a Republican, will serve a second term as mayor after registering 5,400 votes, decisively defeating Democrat challenger William Cerra, who received 4,005 votes.
“I am certainly excited and humbled by the overwhelming show of support that our team received from Old Bridge residents during this difficult election,” said Henry. “All of the lies and negative attacks from the opposing slate of candidates and their political operatives were unable to tarnish our proven track record of accomplishments over the last four years.”
Henry said he looks forward to working with his administrative team, council, residents and volunteers to make Old Bridge an even better place to live for years to come.
Cerra said in a statement the Democratic candidates were very proud of their campaign, which he called “aggressive, fair and clean.”
“We are also very encouraged and thankful to all those faithful Democrats who worked so hard during the campaign and of course all the residents of Old Bridge who voted for us,” he said. “We congratulate the Republicans on their victory.”
Republican Councilwoman Eleanor “Debbie” Walker, who will serve her second term, received 4,752 votes. Councilman Brian Cahill, who will serve his third term, registered 4,718 votes. Former Republican municipal chairwoman Anita Greenberg-Belli, won the third contested seat on the council, garnering 4,744 votes.
A total of 26,122 votes were cast. Cahill said he is very happy to be reelected to his third term and to have the voters endorse Mayor Henry and the Republican ticket.
“It’s not only a win for us, but a win for Old Bridge as a whole,” he said.
Cahill said first and foremost in the new term, the governing body must continue to manage the township finances in a responsible manner.
“During the course of my last term, we took a township that was mired in debt and in just under four years stabilized municipal taxes, reduced overall spending by $3.4 million and reinvested $22 million back into Old Bridge’s infrastructure via new roads, curbing, police vehicles, a new radio system — the list goes on and on,” he said.
Cahill said being fiscally responsible allows the township to provide these services to the residents of Old Bridge.
“We owe it to our residents to spend every single tax dollar wisely, and I am confident that Mayor Henry and the Republican council majority will do just that,” he said.
Greenberg-Belli said she was grateful for those residents who voted for the Republican ticket.
She said as she transitions onto the council it is important to provide a fiscally responsible government for residents and to ensure a stable municipal tax rate.
Greenberg-Belli said she would like to focus on streamlining the Code Enforcement Department and provide the tools to implement a Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Release initiative.
Democratic challengers Thomas Galante received 3,932 votes, Jack Gillick gained 3,828 votes and Deborah Marquez collected 3,746 votes in their losing bids for the open council seats. All three candidates were seeking their first terms on council.
Kyler Dinnen, who ran on the Lower Property Taxes line, received 399 votes.