By STEVEN VIERA
Staff Writer
RED BANK – With over 2,000 votes cast, local Republicans and Democrats have determined who will appear on the ballot for their party in November’s Town Council race.
During the New Jersey primaries held on June 7, Red Bank voters took to the polls and selected two candidates each. The four candidates will run for the two open council seats that are currently held by Democrat Kathy Horgan and Independent Council President Cindy Burnham.
Brian Hanlon collected 336 votes and Kellie O’Bosky Colwell recorded 326 votes, making them the Republican candidates in the Town Council election. Both Hanlon and O’Bosky Colwell had been endorsed by the Red Bank Republicans and faced no opposition, although eight Republicans did cast write-in votes.
Among Democrats, with 1,810 ballots cast, Horgan secured 926 votes and Erik Yngstrom gained 873 votes to win their party’s nomination. Similarly to the Republicans, both Horgan and Yngstrom had been endorsed by the Red Bank Democratas and faced no opposition. There were 11 Democratic write-ins.
Despite not belonging to a party, Burnham is running for reelection as well.
“I’ll be on the November ballot under Red Bank Independents. I don’t think there’s ever been an Independent who ran,” she said.
Burhnam was a Republican until April when the local branch of the party did not endorse her as a candidate for November’s Town Council race. That decision prompted her to pursue her own campaign as an Independent.
Currently, Red Bank’s Town Council is split between Burnham as an Independent, three Republicans and two Democrats, including Horgan. Mayor Pasquale Menna is also a Democrat.