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CRANBURY: Township Committee incumbents James ‘Jay’ Taylor, David Cook re-elected (updated with reaction)

By Mke Morsch, Executive editor
Apparently on Election Day, Cranbury Mayor James “Jay” Taylor can’t really have his cake and eat it, too.
On the ballot for a spot on the Township Committee, Mayor Taylor spent Tuesday trying to have a normal day at work.
The only difference was that it was his sister’s birthday. So to celebrate that – and the birthdays of his 2-year-old twins – Mr. Taylor and family members got together around 6 p.m. to mark the special occasions.
By the time they got to the birthday cake, Mr. Taylor slipped away from the party to check the election results.
There was good news on that front. He and fellow Democratic incumbent David Cook were re-elected to the Township Committee for three-year terms.
“But by the time I got back home, somebody had eaten my cake,” said Mr. Taylor.
The results have Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cook besting their Republican opponents, Fran McGovern and Sean Deverin by fairly wide margins.
Unofficial totals from the Middlesex County clerk’s office show Mr. Cook with 469 votes, Mr. Taylor with 453, Mr. Deverin with 243 and Mr. McGovern also with 243.
The breakdown of the three Cranbury districts includes:
Mr. Cook: District 1 – 163; District 2 – 170; District 3 – 136 for a total of 469.
Mr. Taylor: District 1 – 156; District 2 – 170; District 3 – 127 for a total of 453.
Mr. Deverin: District 1 – 79; District 2 – 112; District 3 – 52 for a total of 243.
Mr. McGovern: District 1 – 74; District 2 – 109; District 3 – 60 for a total of 243.
The totals do not reflect the absentee ballots and are not considered official until the county clerk certifies the results.
“I was confident. Dave and I have worked hard for the past six years and I was hopeful that the residents saw that,” said Mayor Taylor. “But at the same time, I have to say that I had mixed emotions. Fran and Sean and I are all friends. So it’s nice to win, but at the same time I feel bad for them.”
Mr. Cook also tried to maintain a sense of normalcy on Election Day. He went to work and tried to concentrate on his regular routine.
“I just kind of tried to keep steady and not think too much about it. But it’s a long day, I have to admit,” said Mr. Cook.
He and a few friends walked down to town hall just before the polls closed at 8 p.m. Results started to come in around 8:30 p.m.
“You know, as you’re writing the numbers down, it’s like living in real time. And until you get all three districts in, you don’t know,” said Mr. Cook.
The campaign was marked by professionalism and decency, something that all four candidates pledged to do. And they stuck to it.
“We all are going to being going to back-to-school nights for the next 15 years. We didn’t want to say, ‘Hey, that’s the guy who stabbed me in the back,’” said Mayor Taylor. “Not only does it help the community, but I think the folks in Washington have a thing or two to learn from it. Because if we can do this on a small-town level and have a positive relationship and good, clean elections where we all work together, then surely the guys in Washington ought to be smart enough to see that and make it work.”
Mr. Cook agreed.
“Cranbury is a small town and everyone does know each other,” he said. “There was nothing personal or any of that sort of baggage that comes along with the campaign. Everyone knows that the town is the most important thing.”
For their part, Mr. McGovern and Mr. Deverin were gracious in defeat.
“It was a great experience. I’m proud to have given our residents an option at the polls and, more importantly, to have contributed to the dialogue surrounding the issues that we face in town,” said Mr. Deverin. “Yesterday’s outcome allows Dave and Jay to continue with the excellent work that they do and we are truly fortunate to have them representing our interests. I will continue to support them and Cranbury through my involvement. I’d like to make a special note of thanks to my family, neighbors and new friends for their wonderful support.”
“I genuinely appreciate the many who voted for Sean and me,” said Mr. McGovern. “Our candidacy prompted greater governmental transparency and increased public discussion on such topics as compulsory public housing, high-density Main Street development and the need to resist municipal and school district consolidation. I wish Dave and Jay good luck during their terms and look forward to working with them in the future.”
Both Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cook acknowledge that the continuity of their re-election will enable the Township Committee to continue to address the big issues facing Cranbury, most notably affordable housing and commercial development.
“The first thing is, and I actually started with it in 2009, affordable housing. I’d say we’re within maybe three to six months of getting that issue to a point where we may have a solution for it. So that’s a big one,” said Mr. Cook, who has won election in 2009, 2012 and now 2015.
Mr. Taylor said that the continuity issue is important in that it prevents Township Committee members from having to go back and have a re-education process on the issues.
“If you start a process and everybody is kind of on board – and all five of us are with affordable housing – it makes it easier. You don’t have to take a step back and do some re-education. I think from that perspective, it’s great for the town,” said Mr. Taylor.
Both still hold their opponents in high regard after the votes have been counted.
“Sean and Fran have told me that they want to continue on serving on the zoning board, which is fantastic,” said Mr. Taylor. “Certainly they are both very smart individuals and I’m sure they will continue to attend meetings and offer input and suggestions as needed.”
“Everyone’s heart was in the right place,” added Mr. Cook. “I do want to thank Sean and Fran for making the effort (to run). It’s not an easy thing to carve that time out. And I also want to congratulate Jay for doing it again.”