Democratic Write-In Committee Candidate Wants to Provide a 'Different Perspective'

Now that he's officially on the November ballot as a Democratic candidate for Township Committee, Michael Komondy said it's time to start planning election strategy with his running mate, Bonnie Diehl, and to "get Bernards Township Democrats excited" about the possibility of electing a Democrat to the all-Republican Township Committee.

Whether or not votes to earn a spot on November's ballot as a Democratic Township Committee candidate was virtually the question mark in last Tuesday's primary election. Otherwise, the primary ballot included unopposed candidates seeking their parties' nomination for the positions they will seek in the general election.

On Sunday night, Komondy said he had been confident he would win the minimum number of 25 votes for inclusion on the November ballot as the second Democratic candidate for Township Committee. Diehl already had filed a petition to be included on the primary ballot as well.

Komondy unofficially earned 56 votes in Tuesday's election, more than double the required minimum. A former volunteer member of the Basking Ridge Fire Company and Basking Ridge First Aid Squad, he said enough residents in town know him—and called him beforehand when they saw he was campaigning — so he expected to collect more than 25 votes.

Komondy said there is a county Democratic organization fundraiser planned for later this week, and afterward he will confer with Bernards Township Democrats about election strategy.

He said he would like to see a "different perspective" on the governing body. He said many people move in and out of Bernards Township, and some newer residents may have different concerns than those being addressed by elected officials — and their appointees to township boards and commissions — than in years past.

He said he expects to hear about some of those concerns when he begins campaigning and talking to residents.

Although his write-in votes earned him the Democratic nomination, and Diehl received an unofficial 251 votes, both candidates trailed behind the Republican incumbents seeking re-election to the Township Committee.

Running unopposed for the Republican nomination, Township Committee members Mary Pavlini and John Carpenter, earned 722 votes and 739 votes, respectively.