Election results are now official.
There were seats open in Bordentown Township, Bordentown City and the Bordentown Regional School District Board of Education and Bordentown Township Board of Fire Commissioners in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The final vote tallies released Nov. 21 through the Burlington County Clerk’s Office include early voting, mail-in ballots and Election Day voting.
Bordentown Township
Two candidates ran unopposed for the two committee seats on the Bordentown Township Committee. Democratic incumbents Eric Holliday and Kelly Lozito received 3,784 votes and 3,755 votes, respectively. There were 62 personal choice votes.
Ahead of the election, Holliday, who has served on the committee since 2015, and Lozito, who was appointed to an interim position on the committee in January, shared why they were running for a committee seat and what they would like to concentrate on if elected.
Holliday: I’m running to continue building upon my previous work on the Township Committee. We want to keep taxes stable and ensure we are fixing up our roads. My goal is to maintain Bordentown’s strong sense of community by ensuring that we have more events where our town can really get to know each other and learn about all the wonderful businesses we have here in Bordentown Township. I want to provide great public services, infrastructure, and conserve our open spaces and ensure they are well-maintained and accessible. I believe in keeping government transparent and accountable to the residents and want them to feel part of the process and reflect them in our decisions.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? I will prioritize keeping taxes stable while making long-term investments in public services and preserving open spaces. It’s essential that Bordentown Township remains affordable and family-friendly, with well-maintained parks and efficient services for all residents.
Lozito: I’m running for the Bordentown Township Committee to protect our open spaces and keep our community vibrant for future generations. I believe in safeguarding Green Acres from development into warehouses, ensuring our town remains beautiful and livable. My focus is on enhancing support for youth activities and promoting government transparency and communication. I want to ensure that every resident feels informed and engaged in our community’s future. Together, we can foster a sustainable environment and create opportunities for our children to thrive.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If elected, my primary focus will be on enhancing youth support and activities. I believe that providing more opportunities for our young residents is vital for their growth and our community’s future. By supporting programs that engage and empower youth, we can foster a vibrant environment where they can thrive. Additionally, I will work to ensure that families feel informed and involved in local decisions, promoting transparency in government. Together, we can create a stronger, more connected Bordentown that truly supports our youth and makes it a great place for families for generations to come.
Bordentown Township Board of Fire Commissioners – Fire District No. 1 and No. 2
Salvatore A. Guido received 1,573 votes for the open commissioner seat with Fire District No. 1 – Mission Fire Company. There were eight personal choice votes.
George Gareis received 1,553 votes over Fred J. Freda Jr., who received 1,274 votes, for a commissioner seat with Fire District No. 2 – Derby Fire Company. There were 16 personal choice votes.
Bordentown City
There was one, one-year unexpired, seat open on the Bordentown City Board of Commissioners. Heather Cheesman, who was selected to fill the seat in March after Commissioner James E. Lynch, Jr. resigned, received 1,169 votes to remain in the seat.
Candidate James Heupel received 403 votes and Edward P. Foley IV received 251 votes. There were five personal choice votes.
Bordentown Regional School District Board of Education
Michael T. James, who is serving as board president, received 1,414 votes to remain on the board representing Bordentown City. There were 51 personal choice votes.
For two open seats representing Bordentown Township, newcomer Virinder K. Mann received 3,184 votes followed by Incumbent Richard Shenowski with 2,805 votes. Incumbent Raquel Parker received 2,183 votes. There were 32 personal choice votes.
Carmen Rivera, who ran unopposed for an unexpired one-year term, received 3,944 votes. There were 16 personal choice votes.
Ahead of the election, board candidates Shenowski, who will serve his second term, and Rivera, who will serve her first term, shared why they were running for a committee seat and what they would like to concentrate on if elected.
Shenowski: I am running for another term because I am passionate about making our schools great. I take my board responsibilities seriously and am never a “Rubber Stamp.” I am a committed advocate for both our students and taxpayers, always striving to balance quality education with fiscal responsibility. As an integral and influential member of the board, I’ve built strong working relationships with the administration and my fellow board members. These relationships have allowed me to contribute meaningfully to key decisions. Our board president appointed me to chair the curriculum committee and fill a vacancy in the policy committee, further demonstrating my abilities and commitment to shaping the future of our district.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If elected to the board of education, I will continue to support and advance the ongoing efforts and initiatives the board is actively engaged in. This includes my leadership of the curriculum committee, continuing the important work of the policy committee, and with a focus on sustainable budgeting through the finance committee.
A key area of focus moving forward will be the budget, as it requires strategic, long-term planning. My goal is to ensure we preserve essential programs while managing resources responsibly. I am committed to finding a balanced approach that protects the quality of education while maintaining financial stability.
Rivera: I am running for an elected seat because I believe my qualities, values, and skills would make me a great board member.
I am a strong believer in communication and transparency! I advocated for our children and our community back in March at the State House Annex when our school district was experiencing a drastic cut in state funding.
I did so by using data and metrics to support my beliefs and decisions and conducted my conversations with administration professionally.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Funding.
