The vanishing Republicans of South Brunswick

I’ve heard some rumors that there are Republicans living in South Brunswick.

Yes, according to these rumors, there are actual, died-in-the-wool members of the Grand Old Party going about their business, meeting at Pierre’s and going through the electoral motions.

I want to believe these rumors. After all, it is important that there be at least two function and viable parties pushing their agendas and making their cases to voters. But I’ve found little evidence that these rumors are true.

I have talked with people who call themselves Republicans. I’ve seen them around town at various functions, received letters and witnessed them speaking at council meetings.

But there are no Republicans sitting on the Township Council. Democrats control nearly every board and commission in South Brunswick. Maybe Republicans are like those night creatures in the movies, able to survive under only the most constrained of circumstances. Maybe they are allergic to the light, or voters are allergic to their entreaties.

It has been eight years since a Republican was elected to the Township Council and another six since a Republican not named Ted Van Hessen was elected. That’s a long time in the wilderness.

And it’s not like it has been close. Consider this year’s results:

Incumbent Democrats on the Township Council won a resounding victory in Tuesday’s election, defeating their Republican challengers by an almost 2-to-1 margin at the polls.

Council members Carol Barrett, Joe Camarota and Charles Carley were all re-elected to the three, four-year seats on the ballot this year. They defeated first-time Republican candidates John O’Sullivan and Steve Walrond.

Ms. Barrett, of Mahogany Court, was the top vote earner in the election, garnering 9,914 votes. Mr. Camarota received 9,781 votes, followed by Mr. Carley who received 9,765 votes.

Mr. O’Sullivan led the Republican ticket with 5,363 votes, followed by Mr. Walrond who received 5,231 votes.

The 2006 results were similar:

The Democratic incumbents, Mayor Frank Gambatese and Councilman Chris Killmurray, won in all 30 township voting districts, earning new four-year terms on the council. Three Democratic seats will be up in 2008.

Mayor Gambatese received 58.3 percent of the vote with 5,529. His opponent, Republican Lynda Woods Cleary, received 29.6 of the votes with 2,660. In addition, 12.1 percent or 1,084 write-in ballots were cast, of which at least 1,000 were for former Mayor Debra Johnson, said Township Clerk Barbar Nyitrai.

Mr. Killmurray received 64.4 percent of votes cast for council with 5,574. His opponent, Republican Nannette Craig, received 35.6 percent or 3,086 votes.

These are some lopsided results, which is why I have to wonder whether the existence of a local Republican Party is more than a rumor.

I am at a loss as to how the Republicans can turn this around, how they can remake themselves so they offer a reasonable alternative, an opposing voice at a time of Democratic control. This year’s candidates, for instance, were the best the party has had to offer in years and still they barely registered. Part of it was a lack of message — it’s not enough to say a different voice is needed. You still have to explain what that voice would say and how it might have an impact on council business. That was never offered.

But still, it is difficult for me to understand how candidates for Township Council can manage to get so few votes in a year of record turnout. It just boggles my mind.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet