Independence for Howell team sweeps three seats
Walsh, Dalton, Howell win four-year terms on Howell council
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer

The Independence for Howell slate of (l-r) Robert Walsh, Angela Dalton and Michael Howell were elected to four-year terms on the Howell Township Council in the Nov. 7 election.

HOWELL - In the end, Election Day turned out to be Independence Day instead.

The Independence for Howell ticket comprising Angela Dalton, Michael Howell and Robert Walsh defeated the Republican slate of Mauro R. Raccuglia, Edward J. Skibicki Jr. and Peter Tobasco to win three four-year terms on the Township Council in the Nov. 7 election.

Although the Monmouth County Board of Elections was still calculating final vote totals as of last week, the race has been declared. The latest figures showed Walsh, with 6,759 votes, Dalton, with 6,728 votes, and Howell, with 6,539 votes, as the winners.

Tobasco received 5,001 votes, Rac-cuglia received 4,778 votes, and Skibicki received 4,698 votes on Election Day. Tobasco fell short in his bid for re-election.

In an election where the candidates said property taxes were of the utmost importance, the only person who will return to the council, Walsh, said local issues, not national ones, drove residents to the polls. Walsh won a one-year unexpired term on the council in November 2005.

"I'm not buying into that it was President George W. Bush; Republicans and Democrats won all over the state," he said. "I don't believe anything but our local issues were the driving force in people's minds when they pulled the Independence for Howell levers. It was not a little message, it was an overwhelming message that the people did not approve of the policies of this government."

On the clean-sweep victory, Walsh said, "It feels good, I am thrilled. I believe Howell won."

Beginning in January, Walsh, Dalton and Howell will control the council by a 3-2 majority over incumbent Republicans Mayor Joseph DiBella and Council-woman Cynthia Schomaker.

Walsh declined to discuss initiatives that will be pushed to the forefront of the council agenda, outside of the formation of various committees, including a financial review committee and a bipartisan committee of former elected officials.

According to Walsh, those matters will be dealt with in time, as he said right now, "We were very, very focused on the campaign." He assured residents, "We will definitely keep an open mind to all citizens."

Meanwhile, Howell is ready to get to work.

"I'm really glad the campaign is over, but as hard as we thought that was, it is nothing compared to what has to be done in the next four years," he said. "Now, 50,000 people are counting on me and you realize how awesome that responsibility is."

Howell said the members of the Independence for Howell ticket had a good feeling about winning the election, but did not anticipate a landslide.

"We were surprised at the margin; we felt in our hearts that we would win, but it would be a few hundred votes," he said. "The fact that all three of us got in shows the people want a change."

Howell said he believes residents grew tired of partisan politics and said that helped push the ticket to victory. He reiterated his desire to work with members of both parties for the greater good of the township.

Democrats did not run any candidates in this year's council race. Leaders of the Democratic Party in Howell asked the party's members to support the Independence for Howell ticket.

Dalton is ready to take her place on the council dais.

"I'm looking forward to it," she said. "It feels strange driving through town ... I have a lot more responsibility."

She was pleased the entire slate was elected together.

"I think I always made it clear that it was a team and a platform," she said. "It was a team effort."

On the other side, Tobasco believed anti-war feelings and national sentiment doomed his slate's bid.

"We were up against a few things ... there's an air of anger out there," he said. "People are just angry, especially in Monmouth County, and I was up against that. I thought based on the campaign itself, I figured we had 50 to 60 percent of the vote, but I feared the national backlash. When the returns started coming in, I knew I was in for it."

Monmouth County election officials did not have results available by press time indicating how Republican candidates on the national and county levels fared in Howell.

Tobasco, who has been involved in local politics for 15 years, is unsure of his next move.

"I have to kick back for a day or two," he said. "Maybe it's time for me to go back to private life, prioritize family and career. I still have this passion [for politics] and if I can use it for the good of the town, we'll see."

Tobasco said his running mates Raccuglia and Skibicki will probably go back to their lives as well - Raccuglia serving as the president of North Howell Little League and Skibicki tending to his career and newborn daughter.

Tobasco and Raccuglia did make an appearance at the Independence for Howell's victory party, which was received well by those in attendance. He even offered his hand in future business, should the new council members ask.

"We all live in the same town," he said.

Looking back on his council service, Tobasco said, "I have slept very peacefully with every decision I have made for this town. I feel very good about all that. I am very satisfied with what happened in those four years."

Walsh said he appreciates Tobasco's work.

"I like Pete and I commend anybody who gives their time and energy to the community in front of family," he said. "I wish him well."

The new council members will join the governing body in January. Their terms will run through Dec. 31, 2010.