Bernards Republican and Democrat Candidates Will Face Independent

Republican Carol Bianchi and Democrat David Ferdinand gained their party's nomination on Tuesday for this November's election for one seat available on the Bernards Township Committee — but now a third independent candidate has created a three-way race.

In unofficial results released by the Bernards Township Committee, Republican Carol Bianchi — who was in the other room of the municipal building that evening in her capacity as Planning Board chair — was top vote-getter with 1,386 votes cast by township Republicans.

Democrat David Ferdinand, who also ran unopposed in seeking his party's nomination, received 258 votes from local registered Democrats.

Township Clerk Denise Szabo said she had learned from the Somerset County Clerk's office that resident Bill Connors had filed a petition with the required number of votes to be included on November's ballot as an independent candidate.

Connors, a South Finley Avenue resident who has consistently urged the Township Committee to give serious consideration to using an existing driveway from the municipal property on Collyer Lane as an alternate entrance to Ridge High School, just last month said he would attempt to run for Township Committee.

Connors said late Tuesday morning that he had filed the required paperwork, including a petition signed by 90 residents, with the Somerset County clerk's office. 

Szabo said Tuesday night's vote count at town hall did not include provisional or absentee votes, but the margins were wide enough so those votes would not change results.