Democratic slate wins Township Council vote
State legislative races also go to Democratic Party
BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer
Election Day in Edison ended with a Democratic victory in the race for four seats on the Township Council, with an 895-vote difference between the Republican with the most votes and the Democrat with the least. According to figures from the Middlesex County Clerk, about one-third of Edison's 49,000 registered voters participated in this election. This means that come January 2008, the Township Council will have four new faces.

Ann Marie Griffin-Ussak, principal of Washington Elementary School, received the most votes in the election, with 6,977. Melissa Perilstein, president of the Edison Township Education Foundation, came in second, with 6,605 votes. Sudhanshu Prasad, a physician, was third, with 6,339 votes; and

Council vote

Wayne Mascola, an information technology consultant, was fourth, with 6,614. The lead Republican was James Kukor, with 5,719. Behind him was Aimee Szilagyi, with 5,725. Third was Thomas H. Hughes, with 5,625 votes, and behind him was Bruno Bumbaca, with 5,510 votes.

Middlesex County Clerk Elaine Flynn noted that there was still one computer in Edison that needed to be unlocked and so the final numbers could be slightly different.

Voters also decided against reapportioning the council along the lines of a wards system. The referendum failed by about 1,500 votes.

Democratic victors were modest, thanking the voters for selecting them as their council representatives.

"Well, I really feel very lucky that the voters and residents of Edison have put their faith in me. I think the residents of Edison have spoken very loudly and very clearly that politics as usual has to change. People want a government that can [work] for the benefit of the people, not for the special interests, and we are going to do my level best to come to their expectations," said Prasad.

Griffin-Ussak had similar words of thanks to the Edison voters, and said she was eager to start.

"I'm excited and kind of humbled that the voters of Edison had put their trust in me and I'm looking forward to a productive four years and trying to work to bring our town together," said Griffin- Ussak.

Edison Mayor Jun Choi had picked out and backed the Democratic contenders during a three-way primary race with 12 candidates. When the June campaign was over, his slate had won over the incumbent Democrats - Charles Tomaro, Sal Pizzi and Joan Kapitan. Councilman Robert Karabinchak temporarily occupies a forth seat left behind by the departure of Peter Barnes III for the state Assembly. Choi said that he, too, was humbled by the voters' selecting the victorious candidates.

"I want to say I am humbled and thankful to the people of Edison for their continued support and giving us this opportunity to serve them. The results last night were an affirmation that they seek positive changes in our community," said Choi.

Republicans conceded their defeat, noting that Democrats far outnumber them in Edison and that the GOP had been outspent by a wide margin. Candidate Aimee Szilagyi said that she and her running mates made a good showing at the polls, considering these factors.

"The Republicans, I think, did well, considering how outnumbered we are. … It is over, they won, and we all need to work together and, more importantly, we need to bring back civility and perspective to what's important, which is to work together for Edison and move forward and support the people's choice, which was the Democratic slate and no wards," said Szilagyi.

Republican James Kukor said that voter apathy was also a factor, noting that a low turnout at the polls was the case all over New Jersey.

"Well, voter apathy did us in again … and that kind of aggravates me, and I'm disappointed that more people didn't show up. They're going to find out the hard way when their budget is passed and their taxes will go up by 15 percent. You get what you pay for," said Kukor.

State legislative races also saw Democratic victories, with Assemblyman Peter Barnes III, with 17,844 votes, and Patrick Diegan Jr., with 18,121 votes, winning out over Republicans William England, with 13,431 votes, and Joseph Sinagra, with 13,597 votes.

This was Barnes' first state Assembly campaign, having been an Edison Township Council member before stepping up to fill his father's unexpired term in the Legislature after his father, Peter Barnes Jr., was appointed to chair the state parole board.

"It's great to win your first election … I'm very excited," said the younger Barnes.He wished the new council members luck in his former job.

Voters also decided to retain incumbent state Sen. Barbara Buono, winning over her Republican opponent Dan Brown, 20,478 votes to 12,470.