Municipal candidates gear up for Nov 5 election

Byram Township

Four candidates are vying for three open seats on the Byram Township Council, with incumbents David Gray, Scott Olson, and Nisha Kash choosing not to run for re-election. That paves the way for a new wave of council members to make their mark on the non-partisan governing body. Running for the three seats are:

Raymond Bonker; the long-time chair of Byram’s Open Space Committee, Bonker would like to see decisions made regarding the new municipal building, and encourages economic development along the Rt. 206 corridor and implementation of the new Parks and Recreation Plan recommendations. Also running is Lisa “Cris” Franco, who is co-chair of the municipal building subcommittee. Franco is committed to finding the right solution for Byram taxpayers for a practical, economical option for new municipal offices.

The third candidate for Byram Council is Jack Gallagher, a prominent member of the Byram Township Fire Department. The longtime resident wants to see all of Byram citizens and taxpayers have the respect of the governing body and have their voices heard in the community. The final name on the ballot is Carlos Luaces; the former councilman and current municipal building subcommittee member wants to continue the work he’d started in his previous term by improving infrastructure and commerce, reviving expanded recreation services for all ages, and strengthening a sense of community pride throughout the township.

Andover Township

With one open seat on the Andover Township Committee, Ellsworth E. “Ben” Bensley won the June Republican Primary against incumbent Tom Walsh and will be the only name on the ballot on Nov 5. Bensley previously served on the committee from Jan 2016 through Dec 2018, and is firmly committed to fiscal responsibility, tax stability, and lowering municipal energy costs through his LED lighting replacement projects.

Stanhope Borough

There are no Democratic candidates on the ballot in Stanhope Borough this year, but the Stanhope Council will see some reshaping after the Nov. 5 election. Incumbent Mayor Rosemary Maio will not be running for re-election; this year’s sole mayoral candidate is current Council President, Republican Patricia Zdichocki.

There are two Republicans on the ballot for two open council seats. One of the candidates is incumbent Diana Kuncken, who has served on the governing body for the better part of two decades. The other candidate is Raymond Cipollini, who ran against Democratic incumbent Anthony Riccardi in the 2018 election. Cipollini was initially declared the winner in that race, only to have mail-in and hand-counted ballots show that Riccardi was the victor. Cipollini is running for the seat being vacated by fellow Republican Doreen Thistleton.