Manalapan 2011 Election Guide

Election day is finally here, but before you make your decision at the polls get better informed courtesy of Patch!

For a list of polling locations and Monmouth County election information, click . Not sure which poll location is yours? Visit the New Jersey Department of State Web site and enter your address into the "Poll Place Search" to find out. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.

Englishtown

Voting in Englishtown is easy today, as there are no challengers for the candidates running. Current mayor Thomas E. Reynolds, Republican, is running unopposed this year for the open four year term. Reynolds has been mayor of the borough since 2000.

Two seats for a three year term on the Borough Council are also up for grabs. Incumbents Cecilia Robilotti and Rudolph Rucker, both Republicans, are the only candidates running for the seats.

Manalapan Township

There are two open seats on the Manalapan Township Committee. Former Deputy Mayor , Republican, and incumbent and running-mate are looking to secure the seats. While on the Democratic side, incumbent and running-mate are looking to secure the two, three-year terms.

There are two, three year terms open on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and six candidate are vying for the seats. On the Republican side, incumbent Lillian Burry and Gary Rich are running, and on the Democrat side incumbent Amy Mallet and William Shea are running. Thomas Markowski is running on the Independent ticket and Patrick Noble is running as the Socialist Party candidate.

Democrat Michael Steinhorn is running against Republican incumbent Rosemarie Peters for the five-year term as County Surrogate. Not sure what a surrogate does? The surrogate's office works with probate, guardianship, adoptions, trust funds, and determines the legality of wills, among other things.

Members of the State Assembly are elected to two-year terms and are paid an annual salary of $49,000 for what the state regards as a part-time position. Four candidates are running for the two open positions in the State Assembly for legislative District 12.  Catherine Tinney Rome and Bill Spedding are running on the Democratic ticket and Ronald Dancer and Robert Clifton are running on the Republican ticket.

Republican incumbent Samuel Thompson is running against Democratic challenger, Robert Brown for the four-year term in the New Jersey State Senate.

Along with picking a candidate, voters are asked for their stance on a sports betting referendum which askes whether or not they want to legalize betting on sports events in Atlantic City casions and at horse racetracks.