GOP candidates vying for Edison council seats

Nine candidates are vying for three spots on the Edison council, a board currently composed entirely of Democrats.

The three Republican candidates -- newcomers Lori Bonderowitz, Mary Lou Resner and Norman Van Houten -- share a few common views with their Democratic counterparts heading into the Nov. 3 general election.

Namely, that Edison needs to stabilize its battered finances and drive down taxes to prevent people from leaving the state's fifth-largest town.

But the Republicans, who are running alongside GOP mayoral candidate Dennis Pipala, say it's time for the GOP to have a voice in Edison, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 25,500 to 6,000.

They're hoping to feed off a division in the Democratic party.

Recently, the town council has been split along two factions: Democrats aligned with Mayor Jun Choi and Democrats opposed to his administration.

Bonderowtiz, a local businesswoman, said that has only led to higher taxes and council meetings focused not on issues but political arguments.

"They've been in there way too long," Bonderowitz said of the Democrats. "We see people who say, "Thank God there's an option.' "

Resner said her background as a local real estate agent could be valuable as the town grapples with financial problems. She said she sees too many people leaving town because it's too expensive to say.

One of her goals is to boost volunteerism.

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