Election Signs for the Time

Woodbridge Township residents and home owners will soon be viewing lots of signs around the township.  Indeed, many home owners will have their lawns decorated with Halloween displays.

While many homes will be sporting their scary and often entertaining Halloween decorations, some will also be displaying signs supporting candidates vying for elected offices in the township.

This year, voters get to choose candidates for the mayor slot and council seats.

In one corner, there are the Democrat incumbents: Mayor John McCormac, At-large Town Council members James Carroll, Brenda Yori Velasco, and Kyle Anderson; and 3rd Ward Councilwoman Michelle Charmello.

Ms. Charmello and Mr. Anderson were chosen by the McCormac administration to fill the unfulfilled terms of Mr. Greg Bedard (3rd Ward) and Pat Osborne (at-large), both of whom resigned before the end of their elective terms. Therefore, this is the first time council members Charmello and Anderson will be standing for election for the seats they occupy.

In the other corner are Chris Struben and his fellow “Right Choice for Woodbridge” candidates: Walter Kaczmarek, Jr., Debra Reinhart, and Eduardo Ascolese.  The Struben team's slogan is that they are also the “Right Choice for True Republicans” and that they have the endorsement of the Tea Party.

It is interesting to note the Struben ticket has stated they are not indebted to any political party and decry the WTRO (Woodbridge Township Republican Organization).  Yet they have taken campaign monies from the WTRO and plan on placing their campaign signs on the properties of all WTRO County Committeemen and County Committeewomen. Anyone who objects is asked to contact the campaign directly to advise if you don't wish for a sign placed to be placed on your property.

Completing the Republican opposition to the McCormac ticket are the WTRO candidates Susan Boros and Peter Kothari, both of who ran on the regular Republican ticket in the June primary.

While giving token support for the Struben ticket, the WTRO strongly backs the council-at-large candidacy of Susan Boros and 3rd Ward contender Peter Kothari. Both of these candidates would well serve the needs of the community.

So, what will prove to be the scarier and more entertaining of the two events, Halloween or the November municipal election?

Will Woodbridge voters choose to maintain one party rule or to put some new blood and thinking at 1 Main Street?