Democrats retain control of North Brunswick government

NORTH BRUNSWICK – The Democrats will retain control of the North Brunswick Township Council, as two incumbents were re-elected and one newcomer was chosen to fill an unexpired term.

Councilmen Robert Corbin and Robert Davis were elected to their sixth consecutive terms on Nov. 7, edging out Republican candidates George Callan and Mayra Pais.

The vote count was 5,247 for Corbin (36 percent), 5,124 for Davis (35 percent), 2,178 for Callan (15 percent) and 2,016 for Pais (14 percent), according to results provided by Middlesex County.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” Davis said. “I thank the residents who voted and have faith in me for serving my sixth term. It’s been an honor to serve the residents of North Brunswick for the past 15 years and I will continue to keep our community a great place to live and work in.”

Davis said he never expected longevity when entering politics, but “really enjoys it.”

He said moving forward, he will continue to enhance public safety, increase ratables to help stabilize the budget, look at additional programs for youth and seniors and increase the veteran street naming and paver programs.

“It gives you an unbelievable feeling … when you are able to help the community,” he said.

Davis said he is “happy” Corbin and he will be serving together again, and thanked Sylvester Paladino for replacing Shanti Narra earlier this year when she joined the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

On the Republican side, Pais said she congratulates all the winners and wishes them success.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported and voted for me during this election. It was an honor to run as well as a great learning experience,” she said.

Callan also congratulated the Democrats, who have governed North Brunswick for nearly two decades.
“Please try to reduce the budgets, encourage private services to shoulder some services and find ways to reduce the tax and costs of government. We need a break. We need to have disposable income to support local businesses. Please try to draft a better plan,” he said.
“Thanks to all who were kind and cast votes for Republicans. We want to help and know there are still a few folks who want change. We remain available to assist privately until we are elected to serve,” he added.
For the unexpired term, Dr. William Lopez was elected to fill Paladino’s seat with 5,055 votes (69 percent), surpassing Republican candidate Richard Pender with 2,252 votes (31 percent).
“I am humbled to have been elected by the citizens of  North Brunswick to serve on the Township Council and would sincerely like to thank everyone for their support,” Lopez said. “As I said during the campaign, Mayor [Francis “Mac”] Womack and the council have done an excellent job in providing our residents with not only outstanding services but also in planning for the future of our community, highlighted by the continued development of the transit village and the coming new train station for which a $50 million commitment was recently secured.
“I look forward to being an active participant in this process and to maintaining an open line of communication with our residents so that we can ensure that the residents needs and concerns are not only heard but acted upon. The continued development of the transit tillage, the maintenance of a cost-efficient municipal government, the continued enhancement of volunteer opportunities for our residents – these are all things which I believe contribute to making North Brunswick such a special place to call home and I am very excited to get to work on these items immediately upon taking office,” he said.
Pender said he was “gratified” to see the number of votes he and his Republican running mates received this year.

“We had no campaign literature, no signs, no mailers, no door-to-door visitations, no fundraisers or meet-and-greets,” he said. “Despite our lack of traditional campaign methods, the numbers indicate to me that there is a base from which, with proper cultivation, future Republican voters can be generated. I also thank those voters who expressed confidence in us.”

Corbin could not be reached by press time.

The council will reorganize on Jan. 1.

Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].