By Barbara A. Preston | Posted November 5, 2025
Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill Borough voters decisively elected two new faces to the local school board on November 4. After Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill stopped at Aja restaurant in Skillman to stump for local candidates, voters elected Democrats from the top of the ticket down to Township Committee and Borough Council, according to preliminary results from the Somerset County Clerk.
Montgomery Township Committee members with NJ Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill at Aja restaurant in Skillman on October 30. From left: Dennis Ahn, Mayor Neena Singh, Patricia Taylor Todd, Sherrill, Mike Martin, and Vince Barragan.
Photo by Barbara A. Preston
Sherrill focused on the following key issues: Tariffs and how they are negatively affecting small businesses in NJ (putting some out of business); The One Big Beautiful Bill and how it is affecting everyone's healthcare; The Federal government's threat to defund the Gateway Tunnel (which would affect about 100,000 jobs in NJ); and the sky-rocketing energy costs in the state (especially electricity). She promised to push back on economic threats from Washington to the NJ economy. She also spoke about her concern with how the federal government shutdown is affecting Newark Airport, as well as other airports across the country. "It's a real problem, with TSA employees working without pay and having to seek other jobs to feed their families," she said.
"Governors need to take on these challenges. Governors are more important than ever right now."
Sherrill is still a member of US Congress. She will be sworn in as governor on Jan. 20.
While school board elections usually go unnoticed, this year it was the election to watch in Montgomery and Rocky Hill.
From left: Julius Nunez and Francine Pfeffer, along with their running mate Kathryn Worland (not in photo) won election to the Montgomery - Rocky Hill School Board. Pfeffer and Nunez were at town hall on Tuesday night reviewing the voter tally forms.
Photo by Barbara A. Preston
While incumbents Filak and Wolecka-Jernigan garnered a significant number of votes as of Wednesday morning, The Montgomery News is calling the race in favor of challengers Kathryn Worland, Francine Pfeffer, and Julius Nunez based on the numbers. Newcomer Jiying "Peter" Li, (who ran on a platform with Filak and Wolecka-Jernigan), was also defeated.
Voter tally from the Somerset County Clerk's Office as of 11 am on Wednesday.
GOP candidates Chris Venis and George De Sanctis ran a strong race on a platform calling for more transparency in local government. The also fought to challenge state mandates to stop over-development, to push the state of NJ to address Route 206 traffic issues, and to stand up for police and first responders. In a township in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one, the odds were stacked against them. It has been almost nine years since Montgomery voters elected a Republican.
From left: GOP candidates George De Sanctis and Chris Venis at town hall on Tuesday night, awaiting the results of ballots cast on election day.
Photo by Barbara A. Preston
Democratic candidates Vincent Barragan and Michel "Mike" Martin, both incumbents, defeated the GOP candidates, according to results tallied by the Somerset County Clerk's Office on Wednesday morning. (The initial tallies do not represent the final election outcome. Results are added as they become available, and therefore the total votes listed will change until final certification on November 19.)
Voter tally from the Somerset County Clerk's Office as of 11 am on Wednesday.
Barragan and Michel "Mike" Martin ran on a platform calling for the removal of the Kenvue site from township affordable housing plan by extending deed restrictions on existing units at Pike Run. This was after they voted in June to include the high density development at Kenvue in the plan. They said they listened to township feedback and are working to change the plan.
They also spoke against using Montgomery police for federal immigration enforcement, saying, "We back our officers in protecting public safety — not political agendas."
They said they led the first police staffing increase in 15 years, improving response to mental health calls and building a strong pipeline of future officers.
From left: Township Committeeman Michel "Mike" Martin and Deputy Mayor Vincent Barragan on election night at town hall counting votes.
Photo by Barbara A. Preston
The tiny borough of Rocky Hill, which has about 250 households, continues as a Democratic stronghold. No Republicans filed to run on the GOP ticket for borough council. As a result, incumbent Councilman Jon Lee was elected with 281 votes to serve for another three years, and newcomer Albert Chini was elected with 272 votes to serve. Chini will replace Councilwoman Catherine Plunkett, who decided not to run for another term.
On the county level, Democratic Incumbent Melonie Marano was elected to another three-year-term as a county commissioner, defeating GOP candidate Nick Cuozzo — 74,090 to 54,503 as of Wednesday morning.
And, Democratic candidate Elizabeth Graner was elected to a one-year term as a county commissioner over GOP candidate Michelle Mayorga — 73,949 to 53,649 as of Wednesday morning.
