Politics & Government

Some Changes in Store for Township Council in Primary Race Lineups

The deadline for filing petitions for the June primary shows some interesting developments in Woodbridge ward council races this year.


One way or the other, there will be changes in the makeup of the Woodbridge Township Council come November, at least among the ward seats which are all up for grabs.

Two longtime ward councilmen - Charles Kenny and Bob Luban - will not be returning to their council seats. Kenny is making a run for Middlesex County freeholder on the Democrat ticket, while Luban will be running on the Republican slate for the State Senate seat for the 19th District.

Kenny has held his First Ward, which includes Woodbridge Proper and Sewaren, since 1998. Luban has represented Colonia in the Fifth Ward for 28 years.

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The challengers who will be running for the First Ward are Nancy Drumm, a marketing and membership director for the YMCA. Drumm, who is a Democrat, will face John Vtraric for the First Ward seat. Vtraric serves as Woodbridge Republican chairman.

The Fifth Ward race represents a novelty. Democrat Debbie Meehan, the editor of the Colonia Corner monthly newspaper, will be running for Luban's seat. On the Republican side will be attorney when he ran against incumbent John McCormac.

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Barring any surprise moves in the June primaries, these candidates will be their respective parties nominees.

The other incumbents ward councilmen - all Democrats - are running for reelection to their seats. They are Second Ward, Richard Dalina; Third Ward, James Major; and Fourth Ward, Michelle Charmello.

Dalina's father, who is currently a county freeholder, will not be running for reelection. It's his seat for which Charles Kenny is running.

On the Republican side are three newcomers who will be running against the Democrat incumbents. They are: Second Ward, Margaret LaTorre; Third Ward, Cathy Kovalsky; and Fourth Ward, Thomas Sobe, Jr.

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