Township voters overwhelmingly returned two incumbents, Mayor Deborah Nielson and Deputy Mayor Jim Sandham, Jr., to office, rejecting Democrats Dan Grant and Carl DeBacco. With 6,173 votes, Nielson led the voting, followed by Sandham with 5,998. Grant and DeBacco followed with 3,628 and 3,457 votes respectively. Grant's defeat was his third in a row, and record eighth overall in Montville.
Nielson, a longtime resident who won her second consecutive term on the township committee along with Sandham, said the Republicans feel “vindicated” following a hard-fought campaign.
“The voters have spoken. It’s a good night for Republicans in Montville,” she said, after learning the results. “It’s a good night for Montville in general and reaffirms all the hard work that we’ve done and proves we’re on the right path towards the future.”
The re-election of Nielson and Sandham ensure a GOP stronghold on the five-member committee for the next three years with Jean Bader, who openly supported Nielson and Sandham, as the lone Democrat. See Daily Record.