There will be little change in borough hall for South River and Jamesburg, according to Nov. 3 election results.
In South River, Republican Mayor John Krenzel, with 1,063 votes, staved off the Democratic challenger and former council president, Thomas Roselli, who received 1,001 votes.
Democratic incumbent Shawn Haussermann and newcomer Ryan Jones won the two, three-year Borough Council seats up for grabs. The two received 1,023 and 1,042 respectively.
“I’m ecstatic that our two councilmen were elected, but upset that we were not able to get the mayor’s spot,” said borough Democratic chair Tele Koukourdelis.
“We just have to try to figure out were we came up short, it was only 46 votes so I don’t think it was a major slant one way or another,” he said about the mayoral race.
Republican challengers Rupesh Patel, who received 962 votes, and João “John” Sapata, who collected 1,005 votes, fell short of the mark with voters.
The Republican chair of South River congratulated the Republican newcomers on their first election.
“Considering this was their first time running, six months ago a lot of people didn’t know who João Sapata and Rupesh Patel were. I think they did a great job at getting out there and doing what needed to be done,” said Donna Farren, chair of the borough Republican Party.
The Republicans maintained a 4-2 majority on council.
Currently the two Democrats on council are Jim Jones, who was not selected by the Democrats to run for re-election, and Haussermann.
Republicans on council also include Jim Hutchison, Tony Ciulla, Michael Trenga, and James Gurchensky.
In Jamesburg, Democratic Mayor Marlene Lowande, who recorded 429 votes, won a second four-year term beating out Republican Councilman Thomas Gibbons, who gained 340 votes.
In the borough council race, Democratic Councilmen Thomas Busco Jr. and Sandy Sussman, who registered 426 and 407 votes, respectively, defended their three-year–term council seats from a challenge by Republicans Sam Lawrence, who ended with 342 votes, and Joe Scillieri, who finished with 306.
Democrats will keep their 4-2 majority on the borough council, which currently includes Republicans Gibbons and Shannon Spillane. Democrats on council are Daria Ludas, Coleen Rutsky, Busco and Sussman.
Contact Michael Nunes at [email protected].