Election season already under way in Middletown Dems name council candidates; GOP's Wilkens bows out BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer Thomas P. Wilkins MIDDLETOWN - The municipal election for Township Committee is still seven months away, but the Democrats have already selected the party's candidates, while a Republican committeeman announced he will not be on the ticket in the fall. The Middletown Democratic Executive Committee, aiming to gain amajority on the Republican-dominated committee, has selected PatriciaWalsh and James Grenafege as the party's candidates for Township Committee this year. The executive committee made its choices Thursday, March 27, at the American Legion post in Leonardo. While on Monday, Committeeman Thomas P. Wilkens announced that he will not seek re-election for a second term. "This was a very difficult decision, and one that I struggled with a great deal," Wilkens said in a press release. "I was humbled by the faith and trust that the community showed in me, and I tried very hard to always act as a dedicated, productive, honest and respectful public servant." After a highly successful collegiate and international swimming career that culminated in his winning a BronzeMedal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Wilkens returned to his hometown of Middletown in 2004. A political science major from Stanford University, Wilkens accepted the nomination of the Republican Party and was the leading vote getter for Township Committee in November 2005. "I am very grateful to everyone for their support. Middletown is a wonderful town with great people,"Wilkens said. "And Iwill continue to stay involved in the community in every way I can." Wilkens said that he will miss his time on the committee and that it was time to move on. "While I would love to continue in public office, my wife, Stephanie, and I now have two very young children at home, and I have decided that it is most important to devote my full energies to our family and my business career at this time," Wilkens said. "I have always strived to put themaximumeffort into everything I do, and the citizens of Middletown deserve nothing less from its elected officials." The Township Committee is currently made up of three Republicans and two Democrats in a municipality that has had a Republicanmajority formore than 20 years. Walsh and Grenafege are looking to put control of the committee in the hands of the Democrats. "I am so pleased to be able to represent my party this year in the race for Township Committee during the general election," Walsh said. "But I amfarmore eager to representmy friends and neighbors on the Middletown committee for the next three years following the election." The seats held by incumbent Republicans Deputy Mayor Pamela Brightbill and Wilkens will be up for election. Walsh is a member of the Middletown Board of Education and has served on that body for the past 12 years. She said that if elected, shewould not sit on both the Township Committee and the school board. "It has always been my opinion that an elected official should not serve on two bodies," Walsh said. "Consequently, I will resign from the school board should I be elected in November by Middletown's electorate." A longtime resident of the township, Walsh has professional experience in printing and publishing. Walsh said she is dedicated to permanently memorializing good government in Middletown. "It is time for real reform," Walsh said. "It has been time for real reform; and it is my intention to bring real reform." Grenafege is a familiar face at the committeemeetings and can frequently be heard on the microphone as he stands in front of the dais.He now is attempting to sit behind it. "I am very pleased and proud to be selected by the Democratic Party in Middletown to represent them in the general election," Grenafege said in a press release. "I look forward to the process and will be working for victory in November." Grenafege works as a professional consultant. "Mrs.Walsh andMr.Grenafege are both dedicated to our community inMiddletown. They are true public servants and have the interests of the town at heart," Middletown Democratic Chairman Joseph Caliendo said. "I know these two will make sure that things start getting run aboveboard in this township. It's the right time, and these are the right people for Middletown." According to Caliendo, the Middletown Democratic Party would not field a candidate who would endorse, seek or advocate an increase in the municipal operating budget. "It's time for Middletown to see some tax relief, and the Democratic Party is the body that is going to do that after November when there is a Democratic majority on the Middletown governing body again," Caliendo said.