By MADELEINE MACCAR
Correspondent
The June 8 primary election results might still be unofficial, but all the votes received so far have been tallied.
As of press time, Mayor Stephen Dalina received 99.79% of Democratic voters’ support, garnering all but seven of the total 3,299 votes cast for the two-year unexpired term.
Those seven were all write-ins, accounting for 0.21% of the vote.
Republican mayoral candidate Steve Martin’s 2,068 votes accounted for 99.76% of his party’s municipal showing. Five votes, or 0.24%, went to write-in candidates.
Vote-by-mail, military or federal mail-in ballots sent by the 8 p.m. Primary Day deadline will continue to be counted through the middle of June. The official results of the June 2021 Primary Election will be certified by the Middlesex County Board of Canvassers on or before June 22.
Both Democrats and Republicans ran one candidate for township council’s at-large two-year unexpired term, as well.
Incumbent Terrence Van Dzura received 3,144 votes, with a single vote going to a Democratic write-in candidate.
Republican candidate Peter Tufano got 2,041 of his party’s votes, and five votes were write-ins.
Each party ran a candidate for the township’s three wards, all with four-year terms.
For Ward 1, incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Schneider received 1,392 votes and Republican Melody Amantea-Henry received 755.
Democrat Rupa P. Siegel received 1,168 votes and Republican Timothy Eosso received 719 in Ward 2.
Ward 3’s incumbent Republican Charles DiPierro received 584 votes, while Democrat Alton B. Kinsey II received 570.
On June 8, Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Kevin P. McCabe issued a statement on the primary’s results.
“Vice Chair Beatrice Moskowitz and I would like to congratulate the winners of today’s primary election,” his statement began. “Our Middlesex County Democratic Organization slate, led by Governor Phil Murphy, was successful up and down the ballot because our candidates are diverse, fiscally responsible leaders who are committed to improving the lives of their neighbors across Middlesex County and in their respective towns. But though we are pleased with tonight’s results, we will wake up tomorrow ready to work towards victory on Nov. 2.”
The Monroe Township Republican Club also issued a message through its Facebook page.
“We want to thank everyone who came out and voted for the Monroe team last night! We look forward to November’s election where we will win big and save Monroe from overdevelopment, higher taxes and crowded schools. Let’s Fix Monroe Together!” the statement read, which was accompanied by an image of the candidates.
The state, district and county had a number of primary races on June 8.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) received 34,987 votes in the beginning of his re-election bid. Republican contenders Jack Ciattarelli received 8,332 votes to win the nomination for his party.
In the race for senator of the 14th District, Linda Greenstein garnered 4,822 Democrat votes to Republican Adam Elias’ 2,855.
With two seats open for the 14th District’s General Assembly, Democrats Daniel Benson and Wayne DeAngelo received 4,657 and 4,689 votes, respectively. Republicans Andrew Pachuta received 2,826 votes and Bina Shah got 2,644.
In the contest for surrogate, Claribel Cortes won against Bruce Seitz, receiving 29,224 votes to his 5,986. Republican Lisa Goldhammer garnered 14,951 votes.
The Board of County Commissioners race had two three-year seats open, and one of the biggest pools of candidates on the Monroe Township ballots. Of the four Democratic candidates, Ronald Rios won the most votes at 27, 856; Shanti Narra was the next closest, at 27,348. Republican Wayne Mascola and Patricia Badovinac had 14,789 votes and 14,550, respectively.
Chanelle Scott McCullum ran unopposed for the Board of County Commissioners one-year unexpired term, receiving 32,404 votes.
For more election information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov and click on the “Government” icon in the green menu. A “Voting in Middlesex County” link offers users everything from live primary election results to FAQs about voting and this year’s elections.
