2015 Pohatcong Election Results (Updated)

Mayor:

Kern...............381


Council :


Gray...............190
Babinsky........245
McBride...........96






 

Pohatcong Election 2015 > Affirmation Time?

Pohatcong Mayor James Kern with Town Council hopeful, Ingrid Gray.

 

After last years somewhat of a dud election some drama has returned to the election

process this year as three candidates vie for the town council seat that is being vacated by

outgoing councilman, Frank Becker. 

 

Throwing her hat into the ring this year is first time candidate, Ingrid Gray, a life-long Pohatcong
resident recently retired from the teaching profession at DVRHS where as recently as 2012 she
snagged "Teacher of the Year" honors.  According to her bio, Gray also spent a couple of decades
working the land as a farmer and currently serves as music director and organist at her church. With the
added endorsement of Pohatcong's popular, young mayor, things must certainly be feeling upbeat
over at Gray campaign head quarters.

In contrast, the other two candidates each come into the ring with poor outcomes in recent elections.
Former Mayor Steve Babinsky was soundly trashed in his prior attempt at council in 2011 when he
was beaten by Mary Van Lieu in landslide fashion. It seems like voters then were not ready to forgive
and forget the ugly, imperious behavior that was visited upon them during his reign (of terror?) as mayor.

Likewise, former Pohatcong Police Lieutenant, Dean McBride, finished next to last in the competitive
eight person race for school board in 2013.  Hanging over his head have been repercussions from
le affaire Pagano - which still seems to linger in the minds of many voters.

While the race for mayor is uncontested it is not without some points of interest.  When elected four years
ago, James Kern was at the age of 22, the youngest serving mayor in New Jersey.  Would it turn out
well for Pohatcong or not seemed to be the question at that time.  Well that question seems to have an answer
now that he is running for re-election  without opposition -which is of course, a measure of strength.  Unlike the
neighboring townships of Greenwich and Lopatcong, where mortal combat between office holders seems to
be the order of the day, things seem fairly harmonious here in Pohatcong.  And for that reason,
for young James Kern, Tuesday will be more an affirmation day than an election day.

Barring any technical snafus, we will be posting election results here, as we have in the past, on election night -
Tueday, Nov. 3, looking as always, to beat the local commercial media to the punch.

































 

 

Beat The Winter Blues: Do Lunch !

Writer Charles Hugh Smith, in one of his posts on his Of Two Minds blog, talks about how he deals
with discouragement by fixing himself a good meal. Great idea!  Certainly in this new era of polar vortex winters with brutal day and night time temperatures, feelings of discouragement can arise fairly rapidly leading to one Kim Kardashian butt-sized case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Doing lunch out on a regular basis this winter seemed as good a coping mechanism as any and what
follows is a (somewhat annotated) diary of my effort to beat back on those winter blues.

Note: These are not reviews. I am not a food critic.  Just some pics with a few comments thrown in here and there.  All these meals cost less than a ten spot.

Day One:  Acasia (Thai) Phillipsburg

Pad Thai Chicken Lunch Special.  I really like this place.  Clean and stylish interior. Food is
always good and fresh and feels healthy.  A nice diversion from the tedium of all the fast foods joints on Route 22.

Day Two: Applebee's (Greenwich)

Three Cheese Chicke Penne / French Onion Soup Combo.  Culinary snobs probably hate places like Applebee's but I'm okay with it. Different strokes. Clever lunch combo menu-mix and match healthy
stuff with comfort foods.  Note to Pohatcongers: Do not annoy fellow diners by taking their picture without permission. Bad karma may ensue.

Day Three: Panera Bread  (Lopat-Pohat)

Southwestern Chicken Flatbread Sandwich, Soup, Chips.  Should have bought Panera stock
years ago. This place is always packed for lunch.  Oh well.

Day Four: Teppanyaki Grill (Pohatcong)

Chinese Buffet (and more)  Some people rag on this place for it's average quality food. Fair enough,
but can't they find anything here they can like for 7.50 and free hot tea. I can and I'll be back.

Day Five: Giacomo's Deli (Easton):

Cheesesteak Hoagie. With some time to kill one day, why not head over to Giacomo's to see if their cheese steak is truly the best in the Lehigh Valley- as it has been touted to be.  Sorry, but the bar must be set pretty low. Disappointing all-around.  Will stick with Joe's in Phillipsburg whenever the urge strikes next.