Moorestown

Burlington County Republicans have picked a virtually unkown lawyer with few political ties to succeed Garfield DeMarco as Chairman of the embattled Burlington County Bridge Commission. John Comegno, 34, specializes in Education law and represents several local school boards, including his hometown of Moorestown. His only partisan activity, according to his resume, is serving on Finance Committees for State Senator Diane Allen and Assemblyman Bill Baroni, and membership in the Burlington County Young Republicans.

By naming someone from outside the party organization, Burlington Republicans hope to restore public confidence and credibility to the bridge commission. Viewed by one Democratic strategist as a smart political move, the nomination of Comegno might obviate any longterm probems in next year's election.

Democrats scored a huge upset in Burlington County with the election of George Kotch as Surrogate, by a 51%-49% margin over longtime Freeholder Vincent Farias, but fell about 5,000 votes short of winning two seats on the all-Republican Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Democrats captured two Township Committee seats in Riverside, where Republican Mayor Charles Hilton received national attention for his support of a local ordinance that made it illegal to hire illegal immigrants or rent housing to them. Hilton lost his seat by about 400 votes. In Moorestown, Republican Howard Miller, a Councilman since 1978, lost to Democrat Seth Broder. For the first time in more than two decades, Democrats won a Township Council seat in Mount Laurel; and scored gains in Delanco, Maple Shade, Shamong, Westhampton and Wrightstown.

Republicans won in two heavily Democratic municipalities, capturing five seats (and control) on the Beverly City Council, and two seats on the Easthapton Township Council. The GOP picked up two Township Committee seats in New Hanover.