Brightbill, Fiore on Middletown GOP slate BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN - The balance of political power on the Township Committee will be in the hands of the voters now that both parties have announced their candidates for the November election. The Middletown Democratic and Republican committees submitted the names of candidates April 7 by the 4 p.m. deadline mandated by Monmouth County. According to the Monmouth County Clerk of Elections Office, independent candidates have until the day of the primary, June 3 at 4 p.m., to submit their candidates' names to the county. Two Republicans, Deputy Mayor Pamela Brightbill and Committeeman Tom Wilkens, currently hold the seats that will be up for election this year. According to the township's Public Information Office, the Republican Committee has submitted the names of Brightbill, of Shadow Lake Drive, andAnthony Fiore, of Leonardville Road, as candidates for the Township Committee. Brightbill has served on the Township Committee for the past three years, the past two as deputy mayor. Fiore currently serves on the Planning Board. Wilkens, a Republican incumbent who is currently finishing his first term on the committee, is not seeking re-election because he wants to spend more time with his family. The Democratic Party submitted the names of Patricia Walsh, of West Front Street, and James Grenafege, Red Coach Lane, as the party's candidates for the committee seats. Walsh is currently a member of the Board of Education. Grenafege works as a career management consultant. The five-member Township Committee has a Republican majority, led by Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger, with two Democratic committee members, Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes. Short and Byrnes are the first two Democrats on the committee in almost two decades.