Primary Polls Open 6 a.m.; 3rd Bernards Candidate Still Seeking Signatures

Polls for this year's primary election to give party nominations for candidates ranging from Bernards Township Committee to N.J. governor are due to open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and remain open until 8 p.m.

The two listed Bernards Township Committee candidates on the ballot — Republican Carol Bianchi and Democrat David Ferdinand — are unopposed in seeking their party's nominations and already have been endorsed by their local political organizations.

Not included on the ballot will be Bernards Township resident Bill Connors, who in expressing frustration about the Township Committee's viewpoint about solving traffic flow problems last month said he would seek to run as an independent if he could obtain by primary election day 92 signatures for a ballot request in November.

Connors said Monday in an email that he still was collecting signatures to present to the county.

Tuesday's primary election also calls for voters to endorse their choice for Republican or Democratic candidates for New Jersey governor.

Two Democratic candidates are competing for their party's approval to face off against Republican incumbent Chris Christie in the next election under the party banner. On the Republican side of the ballot, Christie, after his first term, is facing a primary challenge from Seth Grossman, an opponent who believes the governor has failed to adhere to the sense of conservatism and small government demanded by Republican ideals.

For the Democrats, frontrunner Barbara Buono will contend with East Orange mayoral aide Troy Webster in Tuesday's primary.

Township voters should have received sample ballots in the mail listing candidates and specifying their voting district, and polling location.

Polling locations for districts throughout Bernards Township are as follows:

Districts 2 & 7: Basking Ridge Firehouse, 30 Washington Ave.

Districts 12 & 14: Liberty Corner Firehouse, 95 Church St.

Districts 16 & 20: Fellowship Village, 8000 Fellowship Road

Districts 4, 21, 22, 23 & 25: Hills Recreation Center, 75 Hansom Road

Districts 9, 10 & 17: Bernards Township Community Center, 289 S. Maple Ave.

District 3: Ridge Oak Senior Housing, 150 Manchester Dr.

Districts 1 & 6: Bernards Township Library, 32 S. Maple Ave.

Districts 13 & 18: Society Hills at Bernards II Clubhouse, 239 Irving Place

Districts 5 & 8: Somerset Hills Lutheran Church, 350 Lake Road

Districts 11, 15 & 19: Spring Ridge Clubhouse, 150 Spring Valley Blvd.