While voters on the national level supported a platform of change, those in Middlesex County indicated their satisfaction with the way things are.
The Democratic candidates for county freeholder swept at the polls Nov. 4, with 27-year board veteran David B. Crabiel and his running mate Millie Scott winning three-year terms. Incumbent appointee Ronald Rios held on to his seat for a oneyear unexpired term.
“It was probably the best vote that we’ve had in the history of the county,” Crabiel said. “People were good to us.”
Crabiel, who has served as director of the freeholders for the past 13 years, garnered the most votes, with 169,815. Scott received 164,222. Republicans Lynda Woods Cleary and Daniel Kerwin received 103,374 and 98,472 votes, respectively.
Rios ran a close second to Crabiel in the numbers, with 169,390 votes, beating out Republican rival Robert Thuring, who received 102,381.
Their victories continue a 13-year streak of a freeholder board consisting solely of Democrats.
Aside from his happiness with the outcome of the election, Crabiel expressed pride in various aspects of the county. He said it boasts 341 miles of well-maintained county roads, four county golf courses and 19 county parks. The number of county-preserved open space acres has reached 7,000, and Crabiel said he hopes to increase that number to 10,000 over the next few years.
Another goal for the term ahead is to see completion of a 180-bed long-term care facility on Route 18 in Old Bridge, which will bring the number of county care beds to 360, combined with a similar facility in Edison. A pet project of Crabiel’s, the facility will provide care for those who need it, regardless of their ability to pay — an aspect of the project he has stressed throughout its planning. He said the care center is a necessity for the seniors in the county.
The longtime leader added that he takes pride in the county’s five vocational schools.
Crabiel also touted the board’s record in terms of county taxes, highlighting his 16- year role as finance chairman.
“Taxes are a problem for everybody,” Crabiel said. “At least we’ve stabilized taxes for the last 16 years.”
According to Crabiel, the equalized county tax has decreased for each of those years. While Middlesex County is the second largest county in New Jersey, it has the second lowest tax rate per capita, he said.
In addition, Crabiel said the county has maintained an AAA credit rating, something that not a lot of counties in the state possess. Though he expressed satisfaction with the county’s financial workings, current economic times do call for work in that area, Crabiel said.
“You’ve got to continue to work at the budget,” Crabiel said. “It’s always good to come up with new ideas, innovative ideas, and we continually try to do it.”