Voters returned two incumbents and sent a newcomer to the Township Council Tuesday night.
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
MONROE — Voters returned two incumbents and sent a newcomer to the Township Council Tuesday night.
Newcomer Elizabeth Schneider-D, won Ward 1 2,765-2,607 over Republican Harold Kane Jr. and will become a new member of the governing body in January.
”I can’t believe it,” an excited Ms. Schneider said after the final numbers came into the Democrats gathering at the Crowne Plaza Tuesday night.
Ms. Schneider said that she sought the council seat because of her experience previously with almost 20 years as a member of the North Brunswick Board of Education.
”(I ran because of) my experience on the board and I know budgets,” Ms. Schneiderman said. “I’m so excited.”
She said she is there to benefit the township and is looking forward to working with Mayor Richard Pucci and the council.
”I don’t have a hidden agenda,” she said. “The people know I’m there to work for them.”
Voters also returned two incumbents to the council, Democrat Gerald Tamburo in Ward 2 and Republican Michael Liebowitz in Ward 3.
Mr. Tamburo, who is also the council president, won his bid 2,773-2,186 over Republican Jeremy Marcus.
”In light of how (Gov. Chris Christie) ran, I felt it was a well deserved victory for us (Democrats),” Mr. Tamburo said. “And what we (Democrats) have done for the township.”
While the two Democrats won the first two wards of the township, Mr. Liebowitz easily handled Democratic challenger Robert Zeglarski with a vote count of 2,053-1,661 respectively.
The community also chose three Board of Education members out of a 13 candidate field.
Lewis Kaufman, Michele Armino and Thomas Nothstein won the three open seats with vote counts of 5,385, 5,367 and 4,912 respectively.
The three winners were followed by; Steven Riback-4,343, Ira tessler-3,722, Deborah Schneider-3,625, Louis Masters-2,955, Richard Gibbons-2,116, Frank Russo-1,982, Richard B. Gibbons-1,591, Michael Klein-1,461, Daisy Robinson-984 and Camile Ragin-903.