Mayor Jeff Martin won a second term as mayor of Hamilton by a decisive margin in November.
An unofficial tally as of Nov. 20 had the Democrat with 12,784 votes, a margin of 3,492 votes over Republican challenger Marty Flynn, who received 9,292 votes.
The 58-42 margin is generally considered landslide territory, but Martin told the Hamilton Post that he will be anything but complacent come January and the start of his second term.
“My message to my staff when I have my first cabinet meeting will be that (the result) means that what we’ve done over the past four years resonated, was appreciated, but we get right back to work with the same mindset, the same humbleness, the same commitment right away,” he said. “That’s what we’ve tried to do: put people before politics. When you call or email come in with a project, it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, it doesn’t matter if you’ve lived here 55 years or 5. If you’re having an issue that you need help from our government from to solve, we’re here for you.”
Township Council Democrats Nancy Phillips and Pasquale “Pat” Papero, Jr. also won re-election, defeating Republican challengers Michael Chianese and Geno Melone. Papero led with 12,235 votes, followed by Phillips with 11,837, Melone with 9,767 and Chianese with 9,477.
Martin said that he always feels some nervousness on Election Day as a candidate.
“While you think you’ve done everything you can, you never know what’s going to happen. It was such an overwhelming moment seeing the results come in that night and seeing the people of Hamilton again put their faith in, not only me, but Pat and Nancy as well. It shows that [voters have] appreciated the work we’ve done over the past four years, but also that they want us to continue it for another four years,” he said.
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At the county level, Democratic Assemblyman Dan Benson was elected to be the next executive of Mercer County. Benson, from Hamilton, defeated Republican candidate Lisa Marie Richford, also from Hamilton, succeeding Brian M. Hughes, who stepped aside during primary season so that Benson could run. Benson received 48,257 votes to Richford’s 20,835.
Martin noted that he already has a working relationship with Benson from the latter’s time representing the township in the Assembly.
“In a year or two, I’d like to see the fruits of that partnership that he and I have built for the benefit of the town,” Martin said.
Hughes, the son of former Gov. Richard J. Hughes, served for 20 years as county executive.
Democratic Sheriff John “Jack” Kemler (48,091 votes) defeated Republican Bryan “Bucky” Boccanfuso (19,420) and independent Drew L. Cifrodelli (1,637) to win re-election.
And Democratic county commissioners Lucylle R.S. Walter (46,963 votes) and John A. Cimino (46,946) also won re-election, defeating Republicans Joseph A. Stillwell (21,360) and Denise “Neicy” Turner (20,994).
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At the state level, in the 14th Legislative District (which represents Hamilton), Democratic incumbents also won fresh terms.
Long-time Sen. Linda R. Greenstein (19,270 votes in Mercer) defeated Republican challenger Patricia “Pat” Johnson (13,164) to keep her seat in the Senate.
Assembly member Wayne P. DeAngelo (19,549 votes in Mercer) and first-time candidate Tennille R. McCoy (18,180) overcame Republicans Skye Gilmartin (13,091) and Adam J. Elias (12,960) to win new terms in the Assembly.
McCoy, a long-time human resources professional from Hamilton, will take over the Assembly seat vacated by Benson.
