Candidate remains on ballot

MARLBORO — Jeff Cantor's name will remain on the ballot in the Nov. 3 Marlboro Township Council election. Cantor is a member of the council and is seeking reelection.

Marlboro resident Michael Fishman filed a complaint in state Superior Court, Freehold, last week which claimed that Cantor was ineligible to run on the Democratic ticket because paperwork pertaining to Cantor's change in political party affiliation was submitted late to the county.

Marlboro Councilman Frank LaRocca, a Democrat, told the News Transcript on Oct. 23 that a judge had dismissed the action filed by Fishman, who is a Republican.

In his complaint, Fishman claimed that because paperwork regarding Cantor's party switch from Republican to Democrat had not been filed on time, Cantor would not technically have party privileges and be a Democrat until after the Nov. 3 election.

LaRocca told the News Transcript prior to the judge's decision that the party privileges Fishman referred to pertained to voting in a primary election, but said it should not impact Cantor's ability to run in the general election on the Democratic ticket.

Fishman said in earlier comments that he respects and admires Cantor, but believes it was unfair for the Marlboro Democrats to run Cantor for office while he is currently serving in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army.

At one point Cantor offered not to run for re-election, but the Democrats said they preferred to keep him on the ballot. If elected, Cantor is expected to attend council meetings via a computer hook-up from Afghanistan.

Cantor is running for council with Democrats Lynn Franco and Scott Metzger. The Republican candidates are Jack Zatz, Carol Mazzola and Selikah Josiah Gore. The council seats carry a four-year term.

— Rebecca Morton