Art Daughtry says that his run in this year's Republican primary will most likely be his last. "Mainstream politics, I'm probably done," said Daughtry. "I'll be around to help out if needed." The results of Tuesday's primary, with Deb Nielson and Jim Sandham taking the most and second most votes in the Republican primary, respectively, were not surprising to Daughtry. "Well, in the beginning that's exactly the way I called it," said Daughtry. "Not as the spread, but Deb and Jim right next to each other and me being behind them." This campaign, for Daughtry, was less about winning than it was …

Dan Grant, a Democrat who sat on the Montville Township Committee for 15 years, from 1990 to 1995 and again from 1996 to 2005, received 22 write-in votes in Tuesday's primary election. 21 votes were needed for a Democrat to be given the option to take the second ballot spot in November's general election. Grant has one week to decide whether he will accept the nomination. "The clerk tells me I have seven days to decide," said Grant. "So I'm going to take a few days to think about it." Grant feels that the township suffers when only one party is represented in township committee. The current …

According to the unofficial totals provided by Montville Township Clerk Trudy Atkinson on Tuesday night, Deb Nielson and Jim Sandham have both won in the Republican primary race for Montville Township committee. Nielson garnered the most votes, with 1,136, followed by Sandham with 1,087 and Art Daughtry with 906. "It's over, I need to move forward; I'm tired," said Nielson on Tuesday night. "I'm relieved...the voters have spoken....I look forward to the general election and serving the residents of Montville for the next three years." Mike O'Brien, the Democrat running uncontested for …

Voters have been trickling into the polls at a slow pace, according to poll workers at various polling places. But voters are still coming out, and many have something to say about the primary election. Some want to see change, some are passionate about their particular candidate, while others are just happy that they have the right to vote.

Republican township committee candidate Art Daughtry voted at the Senior House at approximately 1:30 p.m., and discussed voter turnout, urging voters to "get out" and vote. For continued coverage of today's primary elections, please check back with Patch throughout the day. For more information about polling places and candidates, see Patch's guide to the primary election.

Incumbent township committee candidate Deb Nielson voted at the Montville Township Volunteer First Aid Squad at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and discussed her campaign after voting. For continued coverage of today's primary elections, please check back with Patch throughout the day. For more information about polling places and candidates, see Patch's guide to the primary election.

Mayor Jim Sandham voted at the Towaco Firehouse at about 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and had a few things to say about the election after casting his vote. For continued coverage of today's primary elections, please check back with Patch throughout the day. For more information about polling places and candidates, see Patch's guide to the primary election.

Mike O'Brien calls himself an idealist. "I'm a kid from the 60s," said O'Brien. "I was a teacher all my life; you don't get much more idealistic than that." O'Brien, a retired history teacher who spent 40 years at Montville Township High School, has twice before run for public office as a Democrat, but has never won. This year he will make his third attempt, running as the lone Democrat for one of the two open seats on township committee. The current committee consists of all Republicans. "No one for a minute would consider having a congress all of one party or a state legislature all of one …

Tuesday's primary elections give voters in Montville the chance to choose between three Republican candidates vying for two chances at township committee, as well as cast their votes in state assembly and senate, and county freeholder races. For a complete list of the candidates, polling places and times, as provided by Montville Township clerk Trudy Atkinson and the Montville Township website, see below: Township Committee (two seats): Incumbent Jim Sandham (R), incumbent Deb Nielson (R), Art Daughtry (R), and Mike O'Brien (D, uncontested) Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders: (one seat…

Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville) is finishing the fourth year of his first term in the New Jersey Senate in the 26th District. Before that, he spent six years as an assemblyman and served on the Morris County Board of Freeholders. And by profession, he is a dentist."Serving the people is my avocation. It's something I really enjoy," Pennacchio said. "I love being a dentist, but serving in elected office gives me the opportunity to help people en masse."Serving in the state senate has had its frustrations for Pennacchio. "It's tough to accomplish things when the entire process is controlled by the…

Of the three candidates running in this year's Republican primary for township committee, Deb Nielson considers herself to be the most independent. "I am an independent voice," Nielson said. "I look at each issue, sometimes in the same light that they [her opponents] do, and sometimes from a different angle." Overall, though, she said her voting record closely matches that of Jim Sandham and Art Daughtry. "I would say that my colleagues and I have voted in unison…our voting patterns are about 95 to 98 percent identical," said Nielson. But there are certain issues on which they have differed, …

Jim Sandham and Deb Nielson were runningmates in 2005, but Sandham says he barely knew her back then; someone had suggested he run with her. In 2008, they were runningmates again, but Sandham said then he was feeling pressure to do what was considered best for the Republican party, so he ran with her again. In 2011, he says he is putting the people of Montville Township first, and the Republican party second. "I'm doing what's in the best interest of Montville Township, before the Republicans," Sandham said. "I believe I took an oath to do what's best for the township first…more choice, more …

When Art Daughtry decided not to run for Montville Township Committee last year, it was because he had made a campaign promise not to serve more than two terms. But now, one year later, Daughtry is running again, after being asked by Mayor Jim Sandham. His reason, he says, is simple: He is unhappy with Deb Nielson's performance on the committee, wants to promote transparency, and, according to Daughtry and Sandham's campaign website, perform a review of all township spending. According to Sandham, Daughtry was at first reluctant, but by late February or early March, Daughtry decided to jump …