SPOTSWOOD–Newcomer candidates Edward Lesko and Marylin Israel have won the Borough Council election in Spotswood, securing the two open seats each holding a four-year term.
Lesko won 1,928 votes and Israel won 1,640 of the votes. Fellow newcomer candidate Diane Charlesworth secured 1,489 votes, while incumbent Councilman Jose Rivera garnered 1,405 votes, according to election results certified by the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office on Nov. 20.
There were 42 total write-in votes, making the total number of votes 6,504, according to the clerk’s office.
“It is clear our residents are ready for new faces and ideas, and I look forward to living up to those expectations. I am humbled by the overwhelming support my neighbors have put in me, making me the youngest person elected to the borough council in our history,” Lesko said. “It is encouraging to see Spotswood have such a high voter turnout this year so that everyone’s voice in town is heard. I am eager to get to work on behalf of the constituents, no matter which candidates they preferred.”
Israel has been a borough resident for more than 10 years and before retiring was working for a law firm as a senior paralegal for 10 years.
“Obviously, I am disappointed that I will not be able to continue the work I started on the council, but I do wish Mayor-Elect [Jacqueline] Palmer and the new council members the very best. They have my support and I am available to help in any way I can,” Rivera said.
Charlesworth could not be reached by press time.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
