For some seats, there are no candidates
By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
Unofficial results of Tuesday’s local primary elections in Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell yielded no surprises, except for the fact that Stockton remains without a candidate for one open council seat.
The winners of the contests will be on general election ballots on Nov. 5. Results are:
— In Lambertville, incumbent Democrats Steven M. Stegman, of Studdiford Street, who got 147 votes, and Wardell Sanders, of Jefferson Street, who received 157 votes, will seek three-year terms on City Council. There were two write-in votes. No Republicans filed in April for these seats, but on Tuesday, there were eight write-in votes.
Write-ins included (count does not include mail-in ballots): George Muller, two; Stephen Robbins, two; David Tulloss, one; Daniel Marley, two; and Dan Marley, three. And, for governor — David Del Vecchio.
— In Stockton Borough, where two Borough Council seats (three-year terms) are open, only incumbent Democrat Timothy J. Nemeth, of Broad Street, filed his petition in April. He received 22 votes Tuesday. There were two write-in votes.
No one filed for the seat now held by Democrat Michael Hagerty, who is not seeking re-election in November. No Republicans filed for the seats in April and there were no write-ins Tuesday.
— In West Amwell, Republican incumbent Zachary T. Rich, of Melody Drive, who received 140 votes Tuesday, is the only candidate for a three-year term on the West Amwell Township Committee. There were no write-ins. No Democrats filed in April and on Tuesday there were no write-ins.
Lambertville resident John Lanza and running mate Suzanne Lagay pulled off an upset victory for the Republican nominations for freeholder Tuesday.
In their first political run, the pair defeated two-term incumbent Will Mennen, of Tewksbury Township, and his running mate, former Clinton Township Mayor Thomas Borkowski. That ticket had the endorsement of the county Republican organization.
Mr. Lanza, an attorney with offices in Flemington, and Ms. Lagay, the former executive director of the county Chamber of Commerce and a Holland Township resident, had the endorsement of County Clerk Melfi.
George Melick, who has served as a freeholder since the late 1970s, declined to run for another three-year term. His 36 years could be a New Jersey record for longest tenure as a freeholder.
Countywide, Mr. Lanza led with 4,432 votes, with Ms. Lagay at 4,197. Mr. Mennen gained 3,762 and Mr. Borkowski 3,568, according to the county clerk’s unofficial tallies. .
In Lambertville, Mr. Lanza had 84 votes, followed Mr. Mennen with 75, Ms. Lagay with 73 and Mr. Borkowski with 60.
In Stockton, Mr. Lanza tallied 19, with 16 each for Mr. Mennen and Ms Lagay, and 15 for Mr. Borkowski.
In West Amwell, Mr. Lanza had 61, Mr. Mennen 58, Ms. Lagay 50 and Mr. Borkowski 43.
Winning the uncontested Democratic nominations were Andrea Bonette of East Amwell Township and Robert Darmstadt of Califon, to set up the November general election ballot.
TUESDAY also was the day when those who want to serve on one of the four local boards of education had to file as candidates for the Nov. 5 election. Three of the four boards are without candidates for some open seats.
What follows is an “unofficial listing of filed school board petitions,” according to Clerk Melfi.
— South Hunterdon Regional High School — Marie Collins for the one seat (three-year term) from Lambertville; David L. Pasicznyk for the one seat (three-year term) from Stockton; and Celeste Mosby for the one seat (three-year term) from West Amwell Township.
— Lambertville Public School — Three three-year terms are available, Just two people filed: Craig Voorhees and Megan Hunter Ruf.
— Stockton Borough School — No one filed for the two open three-year terms. According to Clerk Melfi, Cathleen Nemeth filed for the one-year unexpired term.
— West Amwell Elementary School — Only Viktor Paerg filed for one of the three open three-year terms.
Gene Robbins, of the Packet Group, contributed to this account.