Franklin, Hamburg to feature three-way races

FRANKLIN — There will be two three-way Republican primaries as both Franklin and Hamburg will have candidates vying for two seats on the boroughs' respective councils.
Gilbert Snyder is the only Franklin Council incumbent seeking a fresh three-year term on the council. He will be joined on the ballot by George Drossel and Stephan P. Zydon, Jr.
Councilman Michael Rathbun is not seeking re-election.
The primary will likely decide the election as there are no Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Hamburg councilmen Mark S. Sena and Ronald W. Garrett will face a challenge from Joyce Oehler for the two Republican nominations for three-year terms.
There are no Democratic candidates for Hamburg council.
Hardyston Coucnilman Carl B. Miller will run unopposed for the Republican nomination to a fresh three-year term on the council. He will face Michele Van Allen in November, the Democratic candidate for the seat.
There is one seat available on the Lafayette Township Committee. Incument John D'Angeli will face a challenge from Kevin K. O'Leary to the Republican nomination to a three-year term.
There are no Democratic candidates.
Ogdensburg Councilman George Hutnick is going to run unopposed for the Republican nomination for the borough's mayor as Mayor Rachel Slater is not seeking re-election. That does leave a void on the Common Council as only incumbent David Astor has filed petitions for the two available three-year terms on the council.
There are no Democratic candidates for either nomination.
Incumbent freeholders Jonathan Rose and Carl Lazarro and will face challenges from Franklin Borough Council President Dawn Fantasia and Sparta Mayor Joshua Hertzberg in the Republican primary. The winners are expected to run unopposed in the November general election unless an independent candidate comes forward.
Also, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer is unopposed for the Democratic nomination to defend his seat. On the Republican ticket, John McCann Jr. is facing Steven Lonegan for the opporutnity to face Gottheimer in November.