Dems win both seats on Sayreville council Drwal, Makowski win allows party to control all six seats BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer A sweep in Tuesday's election has given local Democrats complete control of the Sayreville Borough Council. The leading vote-getter was newcomer Kathy Makowski, who received 4,844 votes, followed by her Democratic running mate, incumbent Stanley Drwal, with 4,693. Republicans Ronald Green received 4,334 votes and Marion Marks garnered 4,176. The tallies do not include provisional or absentee ballots. Democrats celebrated their victory at their headquarters next to ShopRite on Ernston Road. "We are elated," Makowski told the Suburban after the election results arrived. "We took the high road and ran a clean campaign." Residents voted based on the issues, Drwal said, adding that the election was a tough one due to what he described as negative campaigning against him. "The people still saw through it," he said. The Republicans on Tuesday made their headquarters at Buddy's Tavern, Johnson's Lane. "This is what elections are all about," Green said. "We are OK with it. We wish the Democratic candidates the best and hope that they do what is right for the people." The results, he said, indicate that the Democrats' victory had more to do with their party than the issues. "The top of the ticket was Menendez," Green said. "And whether anti-Republican sentiment played a role we will not know for sure until we have had a chance to study the results." While Marks said she will consider a future run for the council, Green said he does not plan to seek a spot on the dais next year. He said he will continue to be active with the borough's Planning Board and the Environmental Commission. The council's lone Republican, John Melillo, who did not seek re-election this year, offered his perspective on the decision. "This is what the people asked for, so obviously the Democrats are going to be expected to produce. They are going to be under a microscope this year, since they will do all of the voting," Melillo said. Campaign spending may have been a factor in the election, he said, adding that the Republicans generally spend only a fraction of what the Democrats afford. "We raised a modest amount, in the thousands," Melillo said, "and I believe we spent every penny." Republican Mayor Kennedy O'Brien congratulated the Democrats. He said they won the majority of the votes from residents who live in borough apartments. "I congratulate [Democratic Party Chairman] John Wisniewski for being effective in galvanizing the apartment residents' votes, which is his constituency," O'Brien said. National issues had a significant impact on local elections and did not work in the Republicans' favor, O'Brien said. "It had a trickle-down effect on the turnout," he said. Sayreville Republican Chairman Ken Olchaskey agreed, saying more voters came out for the Democrats due to national issues. "The numbers show that there was an anti-Republican sentiment," Olchaskey said. At the Democratic headquarters, Wisniewski said his candidates won based on the issues and the party's record in the borough. He added that the results amount to a validation of Drwal and Makowski from the voters. Drwal expressed admiration for the efforts of his running mate. "I asked for Kathy Makowski to run with me because I knew that she is someone of substance," he said. Makowski will serve her first three-year term, while Drwal will serve his second. He was first elected as a Republican three years ago, but changed his party affiliation earlier this year. Starting Jan. 1, Drwal and Makowski will serve alongside fellow Democrats Thomas Pollando, Dan Buchanan, Rory Zach and Dennis Grobelny.