April 6, 2009 - 10:22am
News

Deadline nears in Somerset County contest between Carpenter and Scaglione

Roughneen, above, endorses Scaglione

BRIDGEWATER - It is Election Day in Somerville, where members of the Somerset County Republican Committee have less than an hour to record their votes for either Bernards Committeeman John Carpenter or Bridgewater Council President Pat Scaglione.

Seeking the support of their party to run on the line here with incumbent Republican Freeholder Jack Ciattarelli, Scaglione and Carpenter deadlocked with an equal number of votes at last Thursday’s Somerset County Republican Convention at the Elk’s Lodge.

The pair beat former prosecutor Thomas Roughneen, who endorsed Scaglione on Friday. Carpenter runs with the support of Somerset County Republican Chairman Dale Florio.

The County committee allowed members to vote over the course of the past three plus days since Thursday night’s tie. The polls close at noon and counting begins at 12:30 p.m. GOP sources say the committee should have a winner by 12:30 p.m.

Ciattarelli and his running mate will face Montgomery Township Committeewoman Cecilia Birge and North Plainfield Councilman Doug Singleterry.

Max Pizarro is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.