Township Democrats Sweep Municipal Races by a Huge Margin

They thought a light turnout might be in their favor, but when the results came in, Woodbridge Republicans didn't stand a chance.

Mayor John McCormac and his slate of Democratic candidates swept back into office with an enormous 3 to 1 plurality.

McCormac captured 10,636 votes township to 3,693 votes for Christopher Struben.

Struben's entire slate went down to defeat as well.

"I called John and congratulated him, and that's where we are," said a disappointed Struben. "I thought we had a shot at a repeat of 1991, when Florio was swept out of office."

"We just weren't able to get the vote out."

The Democrats, partying at the Elks Club on Rahway Ave., were in a celebratory mood. 

"We know that we have our work cut out for us.  We're not going to rest on our laurels.  We have a lot of work to do and we truly appreciate that," said Gregg Ficarra, one of the four at-large Democrat council members who either won election for the first time or retained their seats.

Michelle Charmello, who had been appointed to her seat last year by McCormac when a Democratic councilman resigned, won election handily against Republican Peter Kothari, by more than double. Charmello pulled in 1,434 votes to Kothari's 605 votes.

"Let's work together to make a significant difference for the great town of Woodbridge," she said to the crowd.

McCormac saw tonight's big win as a positive referendum on his administration.

"It's a vote based on every day of the last four years, because of a public works department that's best in the state, a police department that's best in the state, and employees that are the best around," the mayor said.

"We're going to keep doing a good job for the people of Woodbridge."

This is McCormac's second term in office. He was originally elected in 2007, coming back to Woodbridge after he left with former mayor Jim McGreevey when McGreevey was elected governor. McCormac stayed on as state treasurer after McGreevey resigned his office.

The mood of the Struben Republicans, who were camped out at the Hampton Inn in Fords, was grim minutes after the results started coming in.

"It's not looking good," Struben said early on. His campaign had been endorsed by the county Tea Party, but that seemed to have little effect on the decision of township voters. 

"[The Democrats] brought out 40 percent of the vote in Colonia in an off cycle election. The [Colonia] country club was a tremendous media opportunity, and [McCormac] took advantage of it," Struben said.

McCormac announced the township's purchase of the land use rights of the country club several weeks ago for $6.2 million, money that will eventually be repaid by county open space grants. The 106 acre tract is the largest undeveloped space in Woodbridge.

Sue Boros, who earned the second highest amount of council votes among Republican candidates, had waited at Town Hall with her son to get the official results. She was driving on her way to the Middlesex County Republican bash in Edison, where Bob Luban and the township Republican organization was awaiting the results.

"What can you say?" she said. "We tried very hard."

The top Republican vote getter among the council candidates was Walter Kaczmarek, Jr., a Vietnam war hero who is dedicated to local and regional veterans affairs. He garnered 4,270, the highest of the Republican field, but still less than half of the lowest Democratic candidate.

The vote tally for Woodbridge races (* is next to the names of incumbents):

Mayor

John McCormac (D)*, 10,636; Christopher Struben (R), 3,693

Third Ward Council

Michelle Charmello (D)*, 1,434, Peter Kothari (R), 605

Council At-Large

Kyle Anderson (D)*, 9,343

James Carroll (D)*, 9,187

Brenda Yori Velasco (D)*, 9,162

Gregg Ficarra (D)*, 9,061

Walter Kaczmarek, Jr. (R), 4,270

Susan Boros (R), 4,229

Debra Reinhart (R), 4,143

Eduardo Ascolese (R), 4,039