HELMETTA — The battle lines are clearly drawn in a municipality where two political factions have been steeling themselves for a face-off following the June 2 filing deadline for independent candidates.
After a year of contention between Mayor Nancy Martin and a divided Borough Council, two camps have emerged seeking victory in November’s election and a clear mandate in their favor.
Councilman Chris Slavicek is challenging Martin for a four-year term as mayor. Each is running on a ticket with one incumbent councilman and one challenger.
Councilman Pete Karczewski and former Councilman Sewell Peckham are running for three-year terms on the council alongside Slavicek on the “Aligning Helmetta’s Future” ticket.
Councilman Vincent Asciolla and resident James Misner join Martin on the “Putting Residents First” ticket. All candidates are independents.
Councilwoman Yvette Bruno, a Republican who has at times been publicly involved in heated exchanges with Martin, received two write-in votes in the primary election, making her eligible to run for mayor, as well. However, Bruno said she would not do so because it would represent too great a time commitment as her daughter prepares to leave for college. Her term on the council extends through 2016.
Bad blood began brewing last summer and slowly rolled to a boil when allegations of neglect surrounding the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter dogged the municipal government.
A series of tense meetings ensued, with activists aiming barbs primarily at Martin. Bruno, the chair of the animal shelter committee, began issuing public statements about shelter operations, passing information and records to authorities and requesting that the mayor resign.
The public turmoil continued until the animal shelter was closed by the Middlesex County Health Department and the administrators were removed and charged with animal cruelty by the NJSPCA, which ultimately took over the shelter and emptied it.
Now, the building remains shuttered with $1.5 million of outstanding debt, an issue that Peckham consistently raised in public portions of Borough Council meetings.
As time drew on, a division among the council members on a number of issues became clear, with Bruno, Karczewski and Slavicek separating into one camp with the tacit support of recently elected Councilman Joe Perez, while Asciolla and Councilwoman Denise Estrada continued to support Martin. The voting pattern has been predictable in nearly every contentious matter since.
With a majority of the legislative body behind her, Bruno levied allegations of “political interference” at Martin and led a symbolic 4-1 vote of no confidence in the mayor. The mayor rejected those allegations.
Most recently, Bruno, Karczewski, Slavicek and Perez moved to overturn a mayoral veto on an ordinance establishing a chief of police, rather than the borough’s civilian police director position.
For now, the group that has been cobbled together over the last several months has a seemingly firm grasp on power, but this November’s election will determine whether either faction can decisively gain control.
For the “Aligning Helmetta’s Future” team, a defeat of Martin should seal the deal, but the “Putting Residents First” ticket could easily resurge with a Martin victory and a sweep in the council elections.
If that were to happen, the council factions would stand at 3-to-3, and Martin would hold the power to break any ties.