By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
COLTS NECK – There will be a contested Republican primary in Colts Neck on June 6 as three residents have filed nominating petitions to run for two seats on the Township Committee.
The two Republicans who win the primary will gain spots on the Nov. 7 general election ballot and likely run unopposed for three-year terms on the governing body.
No Democrats filed to run for office in Colts Neck.
The current terms of committeemen Thomas Orgo and Edward Eastman will end on Dec. 31. Both men filed to run for office, as did Michael Viola.
Republicans hold all five seats on the Township Committee. For many years, the Colts Neck Republican Party has maintained a self-imposed three-term limit.
Orgo is seeking the nomination to run for his third term. He served as deputy mayor in 2015 and as mayor in 2016.
Eastman served on the committee from January 2009 through December 2011. He was appointed to a vacant seat in February 2016 and was elected in November 2016 to serve through 2017.
Viola is a member of the Colts Neck Wildlife Committee and the Shade Tree Commission.
Committeeman Frank Rizzuto is running unopposed for a one-year term. Rizzuto was appointed to an open seat on the committee in February to serve through 2017. He is now seeking the voters’ nod to serve through December 2018.
