Different messages in North, South Brunswick

The Democrats were victorious, with one lone exception, in North and South Brunswick Tuesday, but the two races were anything but similar.

North Brunswick Democratic challengers Carlo Socio and Mack Womack pulled a stunning upset over incumbent Republicans Paul Pappas and Bill Goldstein in their quest to regain a voice on the all-Republican Township Council.

In a 57.5 percent turnout, Womack, who was little known until this year, grabbed the top vote-getter prize, while Socio, who is even less well known on the municipal government scene, beat out the nearest incumbent by a 658-vote margin.

The Republicans blame the long coattails of the Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Al Gore, who carried the state easily.

While that no doubt had an impact, it should also be noted that in many other towns voters had no problem splitting their ballots. It may just be that North Brunswick voters have learned some hard lessons about one-party government and want to keep it bipartisan.

As the first Democratic win in four long years, it is one that the party will certainly savor.

And, hopefully, they will have learned from their past mistake that led to their trouncing in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

"I’m sure we all have the common goal of doing what is best for the people of North Brunswick," Socio said. And that is how it must be.

Unlike North Brunswick voters, the huge contingent of South Brunswick voters who went to the polls Tuesday chose to stick with the familiar, returning Democratic incumbents Carol Barrett and Edmund Luciano and Republican incumbent Ted Van Hessen to the dais.

It should be noted they had no problem splitting their votes.

The majority of the voters made clear that they are pleased with the township’s current direction.

But, at the same time, they want to retain a small minority voice on the council.

Although she placed last in the six-way South Brunswick race, Republican Dawn Smith seems energized by the support she received and determined to make her party more proactive on the municipal government scene.

That’s a good sign and an attitude that all candidates who wind up on the wrong side of the election board should emulate.

To all the winners, our congratulations.

And to the losers, remember, there is always the next time.