On November 3, Dunellen residents head to the voting booth. Turnout is expected to be light since there are no offices above New Jersey General Assembly that are up for election.
Assemblyman Gerald “Jerry” Green (D) who has represented the 22nd Legislative District since 1992 is running with the former mayor of Rahway James J. Kennedy (D). Kennedy is hoping to fill the chair that Linda Stender left open. Stender who had held the position since 2002 chose not to seek reelection after questions arose about her permanent residence status and involvement in her husband’s application for Habitat for Humanity assistance after Hurricane Sandy.
Republicans challenging the Democrats’ decades long stronghold on the General Assembly are William “Bo” Vastine (R) and Bill Michelson (R).
Current Director of the Board of Chosen Freeholders Ronald G. Rios (D) who has been a freeholder since 2008 and H. James Polos (D) who has been a freeholder since 1998 are running for reelection. Jose I. Alonso (R) and Sharon D. Hubberman (R) are their opponents. Their fellow Republican Alex Barletta (R) is running against long-time County Clerk Elaine Flynn (D).
The resignation of councilman Thomas Cote (D) this past Spring means that with the exception of Jason Cilento (I), all of Dunellen’s elected officials are and will probably be Republican. Robert Seader (R) is running unopposed for mayor. And Council President Kenneth Baudendistel (R) and newcomer Jeremy Lowder (R) are the only candidates running for the two council terms that are open.
The main reason why Dunellen voters will come to the polls on Tuesday is for the Dunellen Public School District Board of Education election. Four positions are open and there are five candidates. Three of the candidates are incumbents: John Paul Osborn, Jeffrey M. Portik, Kenneth Sanders. The remaining candidates are Faith Thompson and Douglas L. Meyer.
There is one public question up for approval: “Shall the governing body of the County of Middlesex prioritize funding to programs which provide transportation services for individuals in need of dialysis, chemotherapy or other regular medical services as a means of offsetting recent federal and state funding cuts?”
Candidates are invited to submit their letters of intent to contact@dunellen411.com by October 31. Dunellen411 has linked candidates’ names to their campaign websites found through Google search. A sample ballot is available on the Middlesex County website: http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/Government/Departments/CS/Documents/Elections/General%202015/DunellenSample.pdf
LETTERS OF INTENT