Bedminster Democrats Back Scaperdas, Riley

Basil Scaperdas, of Steeple Chase Court, and Laura Riley, of Spruce Court, have been tapped as the candidates to run for township committee on the Democratic ticket in Bedminster's November elections.

According to a release from Bedminster Democratic Committee Chairman Charles Eader, Scaperdas and Riley were chosen after the committee interviewed several candidates.

"We are excited this year that we had the opportunity to interview many Democrats and equally thrilled in our selection of Basil and Laura," Eader said in the release.

A local entrepreneur, Scaperdas is a 19-year Bedminster resident, and has been involved in both the school and the local Boy Scouts.

"I have always faced a lot of peer pressure to hide my political beliefs in a town that has historically been solidly Republican," he said in the release. "I am sure that there are a lot of fellow Bedminster Democrats and many Independents whose neighbors assume they are Republican, just because they live here. I want to change that dynamic and develop a township committee that is more representative of Bedminster's residents."

Scaperdas said in the release that he wants to create more balance with the lone Democrat, Carolyn Freeman, already on the committee.

"As a father of three children, who has been educated in our public school system and a local small business owner, I want to make sure that balance and bipartisanship comes to Bedminster for the first time in its history," he said in the release.

Riley is a financial services executive, the release said, and has a background in working with small- and medium-sized businesses in the marketplace.

"By my nature, I am a doer, and go-getter," she said in the release. "I felt that I had stood on the sidelines long enough. It was time to use my expertise in managing insurance, payroll, financial plans and business plans to help my local community and town government operate more efficiently to maximize every dollar that the hard working residents of Bedminster have to pay in taxes to support our town."

Eader said the committee is pleased with its two candidates.

"Both Laura and Basil have a steadfast record of serving and supporting the people of New Jersey," he said in the release. "The BDC is excited to have these two talented and focused candidates. Together they will bring much needed fresh ideas to the township of Bedminster."

Scaperdas and Riley will be running against incumbent Republicans Bernie Pane and Staci Santucci.

Elections will be held in November.