Manville Mayor Richard Onderko holds off two challengers for reelection
MANVILLE – Mayor Richard Onderko, running as an independent, has won reelection to a third four-year term in a rare three-way race.
Onderko, elected as a Republican but choosing not to run in this year's GOP primary, received 890 votes while Republican Councilman Joseph Lukac III got 523 votes and Democrat Roberta Walters trailed with 473.
The results are unofficial until absentee and provisional ballots are counted.
In the six-way race for two Borough Council seats, Dayna Camacho and Jade Nicolle Puia are leading with 686 and 748 votes, respectively. Trailing were Cristina Lazzeri and Jeffrey Puia with 605 and 575 votes and Democrats Ashley Neuman and Christine Sokoloski with 543 and 524 votes.
Onderko, Camacho and Puia ran with the slogan, "Fighting for Manville."
Residents also approved a ballot question to sell Manville's sanitary sewer system for $6.5 million by a 1,520 to 320 margin.
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“I want to thank the residents, Mayor Onderko, Council President Lukac, the rest of the Council members and Administration for entrusting us with their sewer system,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “Water and sewer is all we do, and as Manville’s long-time water provider we are deeply committed to making the needed improvements to help ensure the community’s sewer service is as safe, reliable and affordable as the water service we provide. We look forward to getting started and delivering upon the commitments we made.”
With the approval New Jersey American Water has pledged to make $10 million in capital improvements to the system over a decade.
New Jersey American Water has also agreed to no sewer rate increase in Manville for 2024, a 2% increase in 2025, 3% each in 2026, 2027 and 2028 and 4% each in 2029 and 2030. The rates require final approval from the state Board of Public Utilities.
The $6.5 million from the sale will be used to pay off Manville's debt.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Manville NJ Mayor Richard Onderko wins reelection
