NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Voters across Middlesex County will be deciding who will occupy key roles such as US Congressional representative, Sheriff, Freeholder, as well as local offices.

While the Presidential election may steal the limelight from the local, county, and Congressional races, many voters will be asked to decide on who will run their local governments.

In New Jersey, all voters will be asked to vote on two ballot questions, one about whether to allow two casinos in the Northern half of the state, and another on whether or not to dedicate the entire state tax on diesel fuel to transportation.

Some communities, including four in Middlesex County, will be asked an additional question: Carteret, Spotswood, North Brunswick, and Jamesburg.

You must be registered to vote in New Jersey as of October 18 to cast a ballot in this election.  State law requires this registration take place at least 21 days before the election.

Voters can confirm their registration or pin down their polling location at the Division of Elections website or by sending a text message to 877877.

Registered Democrats and Republicans may only vote in the primary for their own party. Voters who have not yet chosen a party can pick which primary they would like to vote in, and by doing so, will register with that party.

Voters who never wrote down a political party on their registration form, or those who checked the box labeled “No, I do not wish to be affiliated with any political party,” are considered “unaffiliated.”

Anyone who goes to a polling station and is denied the right to vote the normal way–with an electronic voting machine contained in a booth–is entitled to vote on a provisional paper ballot which will be counted if your registration is valid.

Polls are open from 6am-8pm, and no one eligible should be denied the right to vote if they are waiting in line at 8pm.

Here are the races on the ballot in Middlesex County:
(* denotes incumbent)

FEDERAL OFFICES

US PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT

  • Donald J. Trump & Michael R. Pence (Republican)
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton & Timothy Michael Kaine (Democrat)
  • Alyson Kennedy & Osborne Hart (Socialist Worker)
  • Monica Moorehead & Lamont Lilly (World Workers)
  • Darrell Castle & Scott Bradley (Constitution)
  • Rocky Roque De La Fuente & Michael Steinberg (American Delta)
  • Gloria La Riva & Eugene Puryear (Socialism and Liberation)
  • Gary Johnson & William Weld (Libertarian)
  • Jill Stein & Ajamu Baraka (Green)

Middlesex County is split up between two different Congressional districts.  New Brunswick is in district 6.

US CONGRESS (DISTRICT 6)

  • Frank Pallone* (Democrat)
  • Brent Sonnek-Schmelz (Republican)
  • Judith Shamy (Libertarian)
  • Rajit B. Malliah (Green)

US CONGRESS (DISTRICT 12)

  • Bonnie Watson Coleman* (Democrat)
  • Steven J. Uccio (Republican)
  • R. Edward Forchion (Legalize Marijuana)
  • Robert Shapiro (Teddy Roosevelt Progressive)
  • Michael R. Bollentin (We The People)
  • Thomas Fitzpatrick (Libertarian)
  • Steven Welzer (Green)

 

COUNTYWIDE OFFICES

MIDDLESEX COUNTY SHERIFF

  • Mildred Scott* (Democrat)
  • “Peter” Pedro Pisar (Republican)

MIDDLESEX COUNTY FREEHOLDER – THREE SEATS

  • Blanquita Valenti* (Democrat)
  • Kenneth Armwood* (Democrat)
  • Charles Kenny* (Democrat)
  • Joseph “Joe” Scillieri (Republican)
  • Kathleen “Katie” Callabrese (Republican)
  • Zhiyu “Jimmy” Hu (Republican)

 

STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 18 SENATE

  • Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr.* (Democrat)
  • Roger W. Daley (Republican)

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 18 ASSEMBLY

  • Robert Karabinchak* (Democrat)
  • Camille Ferraro Clark (Republican)

 

MAYOR ELECTIONS

PISCATAWAY MAYOR

  • Brian C. Wahler* (Democrat)
  • Damon Montesano (Republican)

PERTH AMBOY MAYOR

  • Wilda Diaz* (“Stronger Together”)
  • Joel Pabon (“Real Leadership for Perth Amboy”)
  • Sharon Hubberman (“We’re Ready”)
  • Miguel Nunez (“Serving All People 2016”)

EAST BRUNSWICK MAYOR

  • Brad J. Cohen (Democrat)
  • James “Jim” Wendell (Republican)

SPOTSWOOD MAYOR

  • Nicholas Poliseno* (“Continued Leadership Putting Our Residents First”)
  • Edward T. Seely (“Experienced Leadership With Common Sense”)
  • Jacqueline Palmer (“Leadership You Can Trust”)

 

COUNCIL/COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

EDISON COUNCIL

  • Joe A. Coyle* (Democrat)
  • Gaetano V. Gaspari (Republican)

PERTH AMBOY COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Fernando Irizarry (“Stronger Together”)
  • Jelmin Caba (“Stronger Together”)
  • Ken Puccio (“Real Leadership for Perth Amboy”)
  • Angel Mota-Ramirez (“Real Leadership for Perth Amboy”)
  • Enid Crespo (“We’re Ready”)
  • Virginia Lugo (“Serving All People 2016”)
  • Miram Quiles-Figeroa (“Serving All People 2016”)

EAST BRUNSWICK COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Michael Spadafino (Democrat)
  • Sterley Stanely (Democrat)
  • Jane Mueller (Republican)
  • Mark Csizmar (Republican)

WOODBRIDGE COUNCIL (WARD 4)

  • Virbhadra Patel* (Democrat)
  • Amarasena Anura Rupasinghe (Republican)
  • Nutan Kalamdani (Nutan for Change)

OLD BRIDGE COUNCIL (WARD 3)

  • June Dungee* (Democrat)
  • Frank Weber (Republican)

MONROE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL (WARD 2)

  • Blaise DiPierro (Democrat)
  • Martin Herrmann (Republican)

SOUTH BRUNSWICK COUNCIL – THREE SEATS

  • Joseph “Joe” Camarota (Democrat)
  • Charlie Carley (Democrat)
  • Jo Hochman (Democrat)
  • Michael E. Kushwarra (Republican)
  • Brian Wojaczyk (Republican)

SAYREVILLE BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Daniel Buchanan (Democrat)
  • Ricci Melendez (Democrat)
  • Arthur J. Rittenhouse, Jr. (Republican)
  • Christian Hibinski (Republican)

NORTH BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Ralph Andrews (Democrat)
  • Amanda Guadagnino (Democrat)
  • George Callan (Republican)
  • Thomas V. Lichwa (Republican)

SOUTH PLAINFIELD BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • John Dean (Democrat)
  • Gary Vesce (Democrat)
  • Stephanie Bartfalvi (Republican)
  • Raymond Rusnak (Republican)

METUCHEN BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Dorothy Rasmussen (Democrat)
  • Linda Koskoski (Democrat)
  • Daniel Lebar (Republican)
  • Joseph Furmato III (Republican)

HIGHLAND PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Phil George (Democrat)
  • Jon Erickson (Democrat)
  • Herbert Gross (Republican)

MIDDLESEX BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Daniel Parenti (Democrat)
  • John Segarra (Democrat)
  • Nancy Purcell-Holmes (Republican)
  • Stephen Greco (Republican)

SOUTH RIVER BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • John “Jack” Alai, Jr. (Democrat)
  • Julie R. Meira (Democrat)
  • Jim Hutchison (Republican)
  • Mike Trenga (Republican)

SPOTSWOOD BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • John F. Melillo (“For All The People”)
  • Jose Rivera (“Fresh Ideas for Spotswood”)
  • Steven Chasen (“Making a Difference”)

MILLTOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Felipe Zambrana, Jr. (Democrat)
  • Margaret O’Donnell (Democrat)
  • Doriann Kerber (Republican)
  • Richard J. Revolinsky (Republican)

JAMESBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Samantha Rampacek (Democrat)
  • Shannon Spillane (Republican)
  • Gregory Newton (Republican)

CRANBURY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE – TWO SEATS

  • Glenn R. Johnson (Democrat)
  • Dan Mulligan (Republican)
  • Fran McGovern (Republican)

SOUTH AMBOY CITY COUNCIL (WARD 1)

  • Brian H. McLoughlin (Democrat)
  • Barbara Pasernack (South Amboy Independents)

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS

WOODBRIDGE BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Jonathan Triebwassser* (Inwood Avenue, Colonia)
  • Joseph S. Velez* (Jackson Court, Fords)
  • Mubashir Ahmad (Warwick Street, Iselin)
  • Thomas E. Maras (Wick Drive, Woodbridge)
  • Rupal Patel (Star Street, Iselin)
  • Akshar “A.J.” Sidana (Creemer Avenue, Iselin)

CARTERET BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Patricia Golina* (Patrick Street)
  • Marty Murray* (Tennyson Street)
  • Debra Weaver* (State Street)
  • Janet Hanley (Polk Avenue)
  • Kinny B. Nahal (Cherry Street)
  • Lydia Singura (Whitman Street)

CARTERET BOE – 1 SEAT

  • Hardyal S. Johal (Cooke Avenue)
  • Gregory C. Setar (Bernard Street)
  • Arvinder Singh (Donovan Avenue)

PERTH AMBOY BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Anthony Bermudez* (Alpine Street)
  • Samuel Lebreault* (Franklin Drive)
  • Israel Varela* (Lewis Street)
  • Randy Convery (Harbor Terrace)
  • Ruben Cruz (Catalpa Avenue)
  • Hattie Harrell (Zambory Street)
  • Junior Iglesia (Steadman Place)
  • Tashi L. Vazquez (Rector Street)

NORTH BRUNSWICK BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Coleen Keefe* (Jefferson Avenue)
  • Donna Mikolajewski* (Barkley Place)
  • Gangadhara Vakkalagadda* (Aaron Road)
  • Barry Duran Harris (Roseland Place)
  • Howard Liu (Springfield Road)
  • Traci Rubin (Platte Avenue)

MONROE TOWNSHIP BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Thomas S. Nothstein* (Nathaniel Street)
  • Michele M. Arminio* (Nathaniel Street)
  • Ken Chiarella (Pergola Avenue)
  • Patricia Mary Lang (Macfarlane Circle)
  • George “Doug” Poye (Tamarack Road)
  • Anand “Andy” Paluri (St. James Street)

SOUTH RIVER BOE – 3 SEATS

  • John Budzin* (Kamm Avenue)
  • Kevin J. Nielsen (Clark Street)
  • Cynthia A. Urbaniak (Raritan Avenue)
  • Sandra Adelino (Jackson Street)
  • Raymond Baszak (Frandsen Avenue)
  • Anita Chadha (Rotunda Lane)
  • Mary Michelino (Main Street)

EAST BRUNSWICK BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Curt Philipczak* (Devon Drive)
  • Robert V. Cancro (Avon Court)
  • David Cukor (University Road)
  • Liwu Hong (Victory Place)
  • Guarav R. Panchal (Yorktown Road)
  • Chad Seyler (Apache Court)

OLD BRIDGE BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Balwinder Singh* (Eleanor Street)
  • Jill R. Cali (Phillips Drive)
  • Vincent P. Delpriore (Raritan Boulevard)
  • Walter Reed (Austin Avenue)
  • Matthew Sulikowski (Route 516)

SOUTH PLAINFIELD BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Steven D. Bohn* (Ledden Terrace)
  • Deborah “Debbie” Boyle (Van Fleet Avenue)
  • Thomas M. Cassio (Day Street)
  • Jennifer M. Curtis (Central Avenue)
  • Ernie James Giannakis (Perry Street)
  • Pio Pennisi (Cherry Street)

METUCHEN BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Jonathan Lifton* (Middlesex Avenue)
  • John A. Mindler, Jr.* (Salem Court)
  • Alicia Sneddon Killean (Home Street)
  • William Rezes (Voorhees Place)
  • Eric Suss (Concord Avenue)

SOUTH AMBOY BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Jessica Colacci* (Conover Street)
  • Samantha Seaman* (John Street)
  • Tyler Simko* (First Street)
  • Ann Marie “Amy” McLaughlin (Cedar Street)
  • Raymond Perez (Augusta Street)

EDISON TOWNSHIP BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Theresa E. Ward* (Outcalt Road)
  • William Araujo (Runyon Avenue)
  • Richard M. Brescher (Grove Avenue)
  • Xiaohan “Shannon” Peng (Philip Street)

SOUTH BRUNSWICK BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Azra S. Baig* (Rocky Hill Road, Princeton)
  • Harry J. Delgado* (Wetherhill Way, Dayton)
  • Laszlo M. Nyitrai, Jr. (Davidsons Mill Road, Monroe)
  • Anilkumar C. Patel (Anderson Way, Monmouth Junction)
  • Lisa M. Rodgers (Libby Drive, Monmouth Junction)

SAYREVILLE BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Daniel S. Balka* (Lagoda Street, Parlin)
  • Lucille “Lucy” Bloom* (Cheyenne Drive, Parlin)
  • John Walsh* (Luke Street, South Amboy)
  • Ryan De La Uz (Cheyenne Drive, Parlin)

HIGHLAND PARK BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Darcie Cimarusti* (Grant Avenue)
  • Mark Krieger* (North Sixth Avenue)
  • Judy Pietrobono* (South Fourth Avenue)
  • Haiying Yan (South Fifth Avenue)

MIDDLESEX BOROUGH BOE – 3 SEATS

  • David Oliver* (Ashland Road)
  • Valerie DiNizio* (Grandview Street)
  • Sharon San Phillips* (Edgeworth Street)
  • Brandon Giovanni (Orchard Road)

CRANBURY BOE – 3 SEATS

  • Pramod Chivate* (South Main Street)
  • Lindsay McDowell* (Jackson Court)
  • Linda Penney* (Labaw Drive)
  • Christopher James Ruzich (Prospect Street)

WEST WINDSOR/PLAINSBORO BOE – 1 SEAT (PLAINSBORO REP.)

  • Yu “Taylor” Zhong* (Rutledge Court)
  • Shrenik Dagli (Macnamee Street)
  • Todd S. Hochman (Daisy Court)
  • Russell A. Melville (Lee Court)

 

UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS

In each of these races, the number of candidates is equal to the number of open seats.

NEW BRUNSWICK CITY COUNCIL – THREE SEATS

  • Glenn Fleming (Democrat)
  • John A. Anderson (Democrat)
  • Suzanne M. Sicora Ludwig (Democrat)

PISCATAWAY TOWNSHIP COUNCIL – THREE SEATS

  • Gabrielle Cahill (Democrat)
  • Kapil Shah (Democrat)
  • Chanelle Scott-McCullum (Democrat)

CARTERET BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Harjinder S. Bahia (Republican)
  • Marcelino Hervias (Republican)

PLAINSBORO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE – TWO SEATS

  • Edmund Yates (Democrat)
  • David Bander (Democrat)

SOUTH AMBOY CITY COUNCIL (WARD 2)

  • Thomas Reilly (Democrat)

SOUTH AMBOY CITY COUCIL (WARD 3)

  • Zusette Dato (Democrat)

DUNNELLEN BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Joseph Petracca (Republican)
  • Jason Cilento (Republican)

HELMETTA BOROUGH COUNCIL – TWO SEATS

  • Ronald Dzingleski (Aligning Helmetta’s Future)
  • Joseph Reid (Aligning Helmetta’s Future)

HELMETTA BOROUGH COUNCIL – ONE SEAT (UNEXPIRED TERM)

  • Noreen Carolan (Aligning Helmetta’s Future) 

PISCATAWAY BOE – THREE SEATS

  • Adelita Deepan* (Sturbridge Drive East)
  • William J. Irwin* (Ellis Parkway)
  • Ralph E. Johnson* (East Burgess Drive)

SPOTSWOOD/HELMETTA BOE – TWO SEATS

  • William Loschiavo* (Lettau Drive, Spotswood)
  • William H. Smith, Jr.* (Cedar Brook Lane, Spotswood)

EAST BRUNSWICK BOE – ONE SEAT (UNEXPIRED TERM)

  • Barbara Reiss* (Canterbury Road)

SOUTH AMBOY BOE – ONE SEAT (UNEXPIRED TERM)

  • Kevin S. Riley* (North Stevens Avenue)

 

ELECTIONS WITH LESS CANDIDATES THAN OPENINGS

The situation is worse in Dunellen, Milltown, and Jamesburg, where there are not even be enough candidates on the ballot to fill the openings on the board.

In these cases, whoever wins the most write-in votes for the office in question will be offered the chance to serve, if they are eligible.

DUNELLEN BOE – THREE SEATS

  • John Paul Osborn* (First Street)
  • Lisa Howard (Madison Avenue)
  • Barbara McGuane (South Washington Avenue)

DUNELLEN BOE – ONE SEAT (UNEXPIRED TERM)

  • No one submitted a petition to run.

MILLTOWN BOE – THREE SEATS

  • Carl Schneider* (Booream Avenue)

JAMESBURG BOE – THREE SEATS

  • Kerryann Holster* (Hillside Avenue)
Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.