By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Every four years, people wake up in order to vote for president.
After watching other states dominate the political scene for six months, New Jerseyans get their chance Tuesday. In addition to indicating a presidential preference, Mercer County primary election voters will decide party candidates for Congress, county surrogate and two county freeholders.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Locally, there are no contests on either side of the aisle for governing bodies in Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township or Pennington.
Democrats David Mackie and Chris Fossel seek renomination in Hopewell Borough Council, as does Charles “Chico” Marciante in Pennington.
In Hopewell Township, two Township Committee seats are up. Republican incumbents John Hart and Todd Brant are unchallenged in the primary, with Democrats Michael Ruger and Kristin McLaughlin unopposed for their party’s nomination for November.
For what it’s worth in the national picture, Democratic voters will get their chance to vote for either former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Republicans will have the chance to ratify the apparent nominee, businessman Donald Trump, or vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich or U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
The two parties set their own rules in the state’s presidential primary election.
When Democrats check a box for either Clinton or Sanders, they’ll be voting for the three delegates and three alternates whose name appears in small print.
Republicans will check one of three candidates’ names in what essentially will be a beauty contest, and also be asked to mark a box with the 30 names of state at-large and district delegates and alternates to the convention who would vote for that candidate.
Mr. Trump’s slate is headed by Gov. Chris Christie and includes former governor Donald DiFrancesco, state Assemblyman Michael Doherty and state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio.
Gov. Kasich’s team is headed by former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman, state Sen. Jennifer Beck and former Congressman Richard Zimmer. Sen. Cruz’s slate is led by former gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan and Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll.
