Politics

The only local race in the November 5 election is for the Board of Education. Four contenders – including three incumbents – are vying for three available terms on the Board. Those running are incumbents Sami Shaban, the current Board Vice-President; Laurie Merris, Dr. Dennis Hopkins, and newcomer Nick DiMeglio. We sent questionnaires to every candidate to determine their stands …

Four candidates – including three incumbents – have filed for the November 5 Board of Education election. Incumbents Laurie Merris, Sami Shaban and Dr. Dennis Hopkins, Jr. are running as a slate under the heading, “Vote All 3.” Newcomer Nicolas DiMeglio, longtime head of the Franklin PTSO and Project Graduation, and the president of the Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce, …

Early voting for the 2024 Republican and Democratic Primary Elections will be available to eligible voters at the Franklin Community Center, 515 DeMott Lane from May 29 through June 2. The polling location will open at 10 a.m. every day, closing at 8 p.m. through Saturday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Community Center is one of six early …

MISSING A NAME – This “get out the vote” postcard, sent by FTRMC secretary Pat Stanley, omits the name of Steve Gillooly, one of two candidates up for the committee seats. A candidate for a municipal Republican committee seat in the 24th District is calling foul over a campaign postcard sent by the Franklin Township Republican Municipal Committee’s secretary in …

TAKING THE OATH – Mayor Phil Kramer takes the Oath of Office while his wife, Laurie, looks on. Councilmember Ed Potosnak was voted in as Deputy Mayor at the January 2 Township Council reorganization meeting. Also at the meeting, re-elected At-Large Councilmembers Kimberly Francois and Ram Anbarasan and newcomer Alex Kharazi and Mayor Phil Kramer were sworn in. The Council …

Once again, Franklin Township is represented on a statewide political power list. This time it’s Insider NJ’s Insider 100 Power List 2023. Representing the township on the list are Franklin Township Police Det. Pat Colligan and Township Councilmember Ed Potosnak. Colligan, who is also the head of the state PBA, is a veteran of statewide power lists. Insider NJ ranked …

CHECKING THE NUMBERS – Board of Education candidates Bill Grippo and Erica Inocencio check the tally board at Par2Play on November 7. The Democratic Mayoral and Township Council slate, and a slate of Board of Education candidates which includes an incumbent, appear to be on the road to victory in the November 7 General Election. The candidates enjoyed leads in …

DEFENDING HIS RECORD – Republican Mayoral Candidate Brian Levine says information about past legal difficulties released recently by Somerset County Democrats is just a “diversion.” (File photo). The Republican candidate for Township Mayor has denounced as a “smear campaign” and a “mountain out of a molehill” the revelation by Somerset County Democrats that he had been removed as executor of …

A “Why We Vote” town hall meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. October 26 at Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus, 1649 Amwell Road. The town hall is sponsored by the Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the League of Women Voters of the Greater New Brunswick Area (GNBA), the New Brunswick Area Branch …

NOT RUNNING – Board of Education members Michael Smith and Nishita Desai will not run for re-election this year. Only one incumbent is among the seven candidates who have filed petitions to run for three open Board of Education seats. Incumbent Bill Grippo is joined on the “Vote All Three” slate by newcomers Erika Innocencio and Jimmie Parker, III. Current …