Let the games begin

It’s that time of year again when Middlesex Borough’s two political parties find – or don’t find – candidates to run for Borough Council.

New Jersey’s candidate filing deadline to get on the June primary ballot is March 25. Each political party’s leaders have to start strategizing on ballot choices. Part of that maneuvering involves how much to say publicly about what’s going on behind the scenes in the year 5 A.D. (After DiMura).

There have been rumblings that local Democrats might have candidates on the ballot in 2024, after leaving Republicans to run unopposed last year. No Democratic candidate has won a Middlesex Borough municipal election since 2016.

Will the Democrats field council candidates? Or, will the damage to the party done by an indicted mayor – who doubled as local party chairman – continue?

The Republicans? The GOP has revealed a bit, but not everything, about its current candidate outlook.

Former Councilman and Republican chairman Mike Hompesch posted on Facebook last week, inviting prospective council candidates to come to a screening meeting planned for Monday, Feb. 5 at Ellery’s Grill.

“Anyone who is a registered Republican is welcome to come and be screened for the position,” Hompesch wrote.

But Hompesch’s post begs the question. Why is the Middlesex Borough Republican Organization holding an open council candidate audition when there are two incumbents whose terms are expiring? Do those incumbents – Martin Quinn and Doug Rex – not intend to seek re-election?

Inside – Middlesex asked current Republican Chairman Steve Greco via Facebook private message. “The committee will be brought up to date at the meeting Monday night,” Greco replied. “I will find out when we all find out Monday.”

So, according to the head of the party, the local GOP does not yet know if its incumbents want another term. Is is really a case of knowing, but not wanting to say publicly?

A year ago, with an election looming for mayor and two council seats, there was no such public search for candidates.

Hompesch’s post said the GOP is also looking for Republican Committee members in multiple voting districts. Each voting district has two reps who conduct party business, including endorsing mayoral and council candidates. Prospective committee members were advised to come to an upcoming GOP monthly meeting, to see if their district has an opening.

What often goes unsaid by the leaders of both parties is that prospective council and municipal committee members don’t really have to go through these screenings and endorsement sessions. You don’t need anyone’s OK to run for office.

A political party’s registered voters can get on the ballot to run for council or municipal committee by getting the required number of signatures on a candidate petition and meeting the residency requirement. Yes, committee members are up for election every two years in their party’s June primary.

That being said, it is easier to run for office with the endorsement of a local political party. With it, comes other party activists willing to help. Otherwise, you need to do your related filings and election paperwork yourself, unless you’ve got friends and relatives willing to assist.

It’s difficult, but possible, for a candidate who’s not endorsed by the local party to win in a primary. What you need is a volatile issue and a lot of angry voters. Recent years’ political infighting in nearby Warren Township’s Republican Party demonstrates that. Development has been an emotional topic in that municipality.

In 2022, an eight-term Township Committeeman got bounced off the Warren Republican Municipal Committee in the primary, losing to another candidate. Apparently, the incumbent wasn’t too popular in his own neighborhood.

Then in 2023, two sitting Township Committeemen were defeated in the June GOP primary. Both had been endorsed by the Warren Republican Committee. One of the defeated Township Committeemen was a four-term incumbent. The winners were two first-time candidates.

How was it accomplished? Roughly 70 Warren Township Democrats switched party affiliation for the primary and backed the insurgents, providing the winning margin. That scenario hadn’t been envisioned by Warren’s old guard Republicans, proving that the best strategists in local politics don’t always have a title.

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