Superior Court judge rules candidate can stay in race
Nikole Pezzullo running against Richard Klauber in Manalapan election
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - A state Superior Court judge has ruled that Republican Township Committee candidate Nikole Pezzullo can remain on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Pezzullo is running against Demo-crat Richard Klauber for a three-year term on the township's governing body. Democrat Drew Shapiro, who is serving as Manalapan's mayor this year, did not seek re-election. His term will end on Dec. 31.

Pezzullo's eligibility to run as a candidate in Manalapan was challenged by Democratic municipal chairman Gerard Ward, who raised an issue regarding her residency.

Pezzullo, who has lived in Manal-apan since 2003, did not become a registered voter in Manalapan until April, when she filed a petition to run for office. Prior to that she was registered in and voted in Belmar, where she also owns a home.

The Democrats charged that her candidacy violated a state statute which requires a candidate to live in a town for one year prior to seeking election and that residency is determined by voter registration (i.e. that she has not been a registered voter in Manalapan for one year).

When Pezzullo's candidacy was challenged by Ward, the Monmouth County clerk determined that Pezzullo could remain on the ballot. The Democrats took the case to Superior Court where it was heard by Judge Alexander Lehrer, sitting in Freehold, on Oct. 13.

After hearing from both sides, Lehrer ruled in favor of the Republicans.

Following the ruling, Ward said, "While I am disappointed with the decision today, I can not ignore the glaring lapse of disregard that Ms. Pezzullo displayed in claiming to reside in Manal-apan while voting in Belmar. If Nikole is too busy to register to vote in Manal-apan, how can anyone expect her to put in the necessary time to work as an elected official in the township? More importantly, Nikole's blatant disregard for the law meant she chose not to vote for important choices facing Manal-apan, like our school district's budget vote." Ward said.

Pezzullo has said she had always meant to register to vote in Manalapan, but as a single mother operating her own law office the time had slipped by her. She said Lehrer's decision "was fair and just. The evidence we presented supported his decision."

Republican municipal chairman Steve McEnery said Lehrer's ruling "was a fine decision based on a case that had no merit."