After loss, Hazlet GOP candidate leaves party BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer HAZLET - Less than a week after losing his bid for election to the Township Committee as a Republican, William Kolibas has switched parties. The announcement took place at a Monday evening press conference in Hazlet. Among those in attendance were democratic committeemen James DiNardo, Kevin Lavan and Joseph Belasco. Reading from a prepared four-paragraph statement, Kolibas said "after a careful review of an examination of the election last week, it has become very clear to me that the people of Hazlet have spoken. They believe not only in the strength but the vision of a new democratic administration." After the reading, Kolibas said that even though he blamed Belasco for much of the tax increase in town, he "could work with anybody," and looked forward to working with Belasco. He also said that even if he had won the election, he would have switched over to the Democrats. Also present was Hazlet Democratic Chairman Andy Bace, who said Kolibas would not run for committee in the next election. Even though Kolibas echoed the statement when pressed, his former running mate, David Tinker, doesn't believe it. "He got beat twice in a row and so now he switches, and you think that he won't run again on the other side?" Tinker asked incredulously. "I feel very betrayed at this point." Bace also admitted that he and Kolibas discussed a potential switch in party affiliation as early April of this year. "I was taken aback at first when he brought it up," Bace said. "But right now, we're happy to have him aboard." "I'm a person of integrity and I wouldn't break things up," Kolibas said. "I wouldn't break things up for the Republicans right in the middle of a campaign." During the press conference, Kolibas said, "this is the warmest I've felt in a while, being on the Democrats' side." When asked about the last time he felt warmth from the Republicans, he said, "No comment." Hazlet Republican Chairman Scott Aagre said he had not heard anything about a defection. "I am sure he was unhappy about the result of the election, but he gave no indication that he was going to do something like this," Aagre said. "If that's the direction he wants to go, then so be it. Maybe he'll find happiness on the other side." Tinker was not so cordial about the situation or the role that Kolibas played leading up to last Tuesday. "Will didn't want to listen to anything or anybody. He had his own agenda right from the start," Tinker said. "It was always attack, attack, attack right from the start. All he wanted to do was run a negative campaign and it didn't work at all and he also didn't feel like working hard." "I don't know how many times I was out there pounding the pavement on my own, without him. But when it came time for the golf tournaments and the free dinners, he was there."