David Crabiel, longtime Middlesex Freeholder, dead at 78

David B. Crabiel, a Middlesex County Freeholder for 27 of the last thirty years, passed away earlier today.  Since the indictment and criminal conviction of former Senate President John Lynch, Crabiel has been the most powerful figure in Middlesex County politics.

He was 78.

The brother of J. Edward Crabiel, who served as a State Senator and as New Jersey Secretary of State, David Crabiel has held public office since 1960, when he was elected to the Milltown Borough Council.  He spent 19 years in local government, including eleven as Mayor. 

Crabiel was elected to the Board of Freeholders in 1978 and served until his defeat in the 1991 Republican landslide.  He was again elected in 1993, and has been the Freeholder Director since 1998.

Crabiel was re-elected to an 11th term in 2008.  He was the top vote-getter, defeating Republican Lynda Woods Cleary by more than 66,000 votes.

"Dave was and in all ways will continue to be Mr. Middlesex County. His first and last advocacy was for all its citizens," said State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge).  "His experience and depth of knowledge will never be replaced. We are all better off for his years of public service."

Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) said that Crabiel embodied the statement of  'Middlesex County – The Greatest County in the Land.'"

"In government we are always critical of what does not work and never give credit for what is working," said Vas.  "Crabiel deserves credit for the astuteness that he provided for the financial stability of Middlesex County.  He was a strong leader and will be sorely missed by myself, his family and others."

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said that Crabiel "was a leader on a great many issues we face and much of the success of Middlesex County as a commercial, academic, and cultural center can be attributed to David."

Crabiel is survived by his wife and five children.  His son-in-law, Brian Wahler, is the Mayor of Piscataway.