Two Independents Challenging McCabe, Running Mate For Seats On Barnegat Township Committee

by Patricia A. Miller

The race for the two available seats on the Barnegat Township Committee is shaping up to be an interesting one.

Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday to choose between two Republicans, one Democrat and two independents seeking the three-year terms.

Current Republican Mayor Susan McCabe, 24 Carriage Road, is running with Frank Capato, 20 Hidden Lake Circle. Also running is Democrat Carrie Diona, 57 Old Main Shore Road.

They are being challenged by Independents Bill Cox, 12 Herkimer Court and Denise Pilovsky, 26 Aphrodite Drive. The two are running on the ”No more RINOS” slate and have launched a spirited campaign on Facebook.

Democratic Township Committeewoman Elaine Taylor withdrew from the Barnegat Township Committee race on Sept. 8 because her family is moving to Virginia once their home is sold. Taylor has thrown her support behind Cox and Pilovsky.

“I know the type of people they are,” she said. ”I trust them totally.”

Taylor ran on the Democratic ticket in a previous election with McCabe. McCabe has since switched to the Republican party and is running with Republican Frank Caputo, 20 Hidden Lake Circle.

But Taylor says she has decided to support Independents Cox, Herkimer Court, and Pilovsky, 26 Aphrodite Drive.

“We need a change in government in this town,” she said. ”I think that Susan (McCabe) is an opportunist. We are a small town. We shouldn’t have to play politics in a small town.”

McCabe’s party switch, coupled with her accepting a job as an adjunct professor at Ocean County College and voting for area attorney Jerry Dasti for several positions in Barnegat are an example of opportunism, Taylor has said. Dasti is an Ocean County College Board of Trustees member.

Until her house is sold, or her term expires, Taylor will continue to serve on the Township Committee.

All Barnegat municipal and school board candidates were invited to submit Letters to the Editor, but no one did.

The mayoral seat in Barnegat is largely a ceremonial one. There is no direct mayoral election. The mayor is selected each year by the five-member Township Committee.

The polls are open on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo credit: Barnegat Township.