Voters say yes to most budgets, incumbents

Voters in most Middlesex County towns approved their local school budgets Tuesday, and in most cases also held onto their incumbent candidates for Board of Education.
In East Brunswick, where 15 percent of registered voters cast ballots, the school budget was approved in a vote of 2,755 to 2,064. The 2009-10 budget will keep the school tax rate level for the operating budget, and residents will actually see a decrease in their school taxes due to reduced debt service.
Three incumbents on the East Brunswick Board of Education edged out a trio of challengers. Dr. Susan Karp was the high vote-getter with 2,418 votes, while Vicki Becker and Meredith Shaw received 2,348 and 2,344 votes, respectively. Challengers James DeStefano, Gene Ryan and Joseph Grekoski garnered 2,277, 2,081 and 2,035 votes, respectively.
“Hey, you know, what can I say? I think this is a team that is going to serve this town well,” Shaw said. On the budget, she added, “We worked hard to bring this to a level people can appreciate and approve.”
Though Spotswood voters failed most school budgets of the past 20 years, they’ve now approved two in a row. Residents approved the school tab Tuesday in a vote of 363 to 288, with 13 percent of registered voters casting ballots. Like East Brunswick, Spotswood’s budget included a zero tax hike.
Board President Richard O’Brien was pleased with the results.
“You’re always concerned [about passing the budget], especially in this economic climate,” O’Brien said.
Spotswood voters reelected O’Brien to a three-year term, with 410 votes, and also chose newcomer William Smith, who was the high vote-getter with 413 votes. Another newcomer, Dan Auciello, was unsuccessful with 303 votes.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the voters in town for their continued faith in my judgment,” O'Brien said.
Helmetta’s budget failed by a vote of 74-29, while the lone candidate, Francine Wheary, was elected to her first term, garnering 55 votes. The budget called for a tax increase of $52 on the average home.
Jamesburg voters approved their budget in a vote of 147-141 and elected Ted Somers, Darren Larsen and Robert Czarneski to three-year terms with votes of 207, 197 and 196, respectively. The three ran unchallenged. No candidates filed for a one-year term on the board, but Daniel J. Hansen received 10 write-in votes for the seat.
In Milltown, the school budget was approved by 10 votes, with 437 in favor and 427 against. Meanwhile, residents reelected incumbents Bill Petscavage and Alexis Harley with votes of 643 and 579, respectively. Newcomer J. Scott Johnkins won the third available term with 504 votes.
Monroe voters defeated the school budget, with 2,697 against and 2,075 in favor. The budget proposed an average tax hike of $67. Mark Klein won his first board term with 3,056 votes, while incumbents John Leary and Marvin Braverman were reelected with 2,878 and 2,817 votes, respectively. Newcomer Anthony Prezioso was unsuccessful with 2,039 votes.
In South River, the budget was approved in a vote of 590-311, and voters chose one incumbent and two newcomers for three terms on the board. Peggy Marino won her third term, with 529 votes, while newcomers Kelly Cruz and Tonya Duran were elected with 613 and 522 votes, respectively. Incumbents Karl Haider, with 489 votes, and Andreas Miller, 407, were unsuccessful.