Seven to vie for three seats on township council

SPARTA - She knows where they’ve been lately, who’ve they’ve talked to and, perhaps, who they’ve even had over to their house. She is Miriam Tower, Sparta Township clerk, who is in charge of verifying a minimum of 122 names and addresses of the registered voters on each candidate’s petition to get on the May ballot. “It’s a long, tedious process, especially when you have so many candidates,” said Tower. “People can sign (petitions) for as many seats as there are available.” Tower said three incumbents - Mayor Ailish Hambel, Deputy Mayor Wayne Ring, and James Henderson successfully petitioned her office for the chance to regain a four-year seat on the five-member council. They will face challengers Robert Lombardo, Michael Spekhardt, Manny Goldberg, and Brian Brady. Another challenger, Erica Lupo, submitted 121 signatures, one short of the 122 necessary to qualify for the ballot. She hopes to gain election as a write-in. “The rules are the same for everybody,” said Tower. “The chances of 122 people signing and having them all valid are slim.” Hambel, who has served on the council for the past 10 years, said it will good to have a large number of people on the ballot. “It’s good for Sparta,” she said. “Obviously, with seven candidates running, it means more people are paying attention.” No everyone is sure the large number of candidates will translate into a large turnout of voters, specially because the May 9 council election will come on the heels of the Board of Election vote taking place April 19. “There’s a short window between the two elections,” said Goldberg. “We may have a degree of voter fatigue. We’re going to have a lot of names thrown out there over 5 - 6 weeks. People may react negatively and not come out and vote or people, because of all the rhetoric, may come out and vote in greater numbers.” For Sparta residents those elections will not be the last time they see a voting booth this year. Sparta will host primary elections in June, followed by a school referendum on reconstruction of the existing high school in September and the general election in November. Tower said each election can cost the township at least $10,000. The board of education will fit the bill for the referendum vote, she said. “It’s insanity,” said Hambel. “I have never cared for the way the elections are scheduled. It’s not only confusing, it’s very expensive.”