No Petitions Filed for Cranbury Committee

No petitions have been filed for Cranbury Township’s one three-year committee seat that will open at the end of the year. Republican Mayor Winthrop Cody now occupies the seat but did not file for reelection.

Since no one filed a petition prior to the April 11 deadline, the only way to become a candidate will be to receive write-in votes in June 7’s primary election and then accept the nomination before election day on Nov. 8.

Based on a formula calculated by Middlesex County, Republican candidates in the township must receive a minimum of 11 write-in votes to be eligible, while a Democratic candidate must receive at least six, according to municipal and county officials. These minimums are based on 2009’s general assembly election and represent five percent of the total votes cast for each party. Should no one receive enough write-in votes or if the person declines his or her nomination, the committee can appoint a new member at a meeting next January or simply operate with one less member.

Last year, three candidates ran for the two three-year terms. Republican Dan Mulligan received the most votes, while Democrat Glenn Johnson defeated Republican Art Hasselbach by just 21 votes. The other two members of the committee, Democrat Dave Cook and Republican Jay Taylor, will have their terms expire at the end of next year.

Mayor Cody, who recently has with the rest of the committee regarding a two-cent municipal tax hike, has served on the committee since 2009 after defeating Democrat John Ritter. This is his first year as mayor.

Mulligan, the Republican committeeman, said he sees this as an opportunity for a write-in candidate to make a difference in the community.

“With no one filing to run the door is now wide open for anyone from either party— Republican or Democrat—to run for the Township Committee,” he said. “It will be interesting to see in the end who does.”