The voters have spoken.
And the voters have chosen nominees for three open seats on the Lawrence Township Council in the June 4 Democratic and Republican party primary contests.
Democratic incumbent Township Council members Michael Powers and Cathleen Lewis received 693 votes and 670 votes, respectively, and their running mate, newcomer John Ryan, recorded 681 votes. Incumbent Township Council member David Maffei is not seeking re-election.
On the Republican Party side, nominees Robert Pluta got 226 votes, Eric Jaszewski got 205 votes and Joseph A. Vinch got 201 votes.
All of the candidates ran unopposed in their respective primaries, and will square off against each other in the Nov. 5 general election.
Powers is running for his fifth term on Township Council, and served in the ceremonial post of mayor in 2006 and 2010. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1986 and is an attorney with the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney.
Lewis is seeking her third term on Township Council, and served as mayor in 2014 and 2015. She has lived in Lawrence since 2004, and is the director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for AAA Northeast.
Ryan is a 34-year resident of Lawrence Township, and recently retired from United Parcel Service. He sits on the Lawrence Township Planning Board.
Pluta, who owns Leonardo II’s restaurant on Brunswick Pike, is a 1992 graduate of Lawrence High School. This is his second run for Lawrence Township Council.
Jaszewski grew up in Hamilton Township and moved to Lawrence Township six years ago. He established Lawrence Family Chiropractic, which is located on Brunswick Pike, seven years ago.
Vinch, who graduated from Lawrence High School in 2013, owns Honest Stu’s on Princeton Pike.
