GOP candidates running for Hamilton council
HAMILTON » Campaign season is heating up.
The Hamilton Township Republican Committee has nominated three candidates seeking to win election to town council this fall.
Retired policeman Bob Diszler, behavioral health executive James Boozan and sports performance trainer Joe DeMarco received the Hamilton GOP’s endorsement this month as their energized party hopes to regain majority control of the township’s governing body.
Former councilwoman Ileana Schirmer, chair of the Hamilton Township Republican organization, announced the nominees this week, saying the trio “represents a segment of our beautiful town and have spent their lives giving back to the community.”
Diszler retired from the Hamilton Township police force in July 2019 after 26 years of service. He is a former recipient of the Hamilton Township Officer of the Year award, having received the honor in 2006. Diszler also served as the school resource officer or SRO at Steinert High School. He is a lifelong Hamiltonian and a proud father of two girls.
Boozan, a lifelong township resident, is a family man and proud father of four girls. He is an executive for several behavioral health facilities throughout the country and volunteers for various nonprofits to help with the growing substance abuse and mental health issues facing America.
DeMarco, a longtime Hamiltonian, has been a sports performance trainer for the past 25 years. He owns a sports performance training center in Hamilton with the main goal of providing kids with a place and avenue where they can succeed both academically and athletically, according to the Hamilton GOP.
Hamilton Council is a five-member legislative body that passes resolutions and ordinances impacting Hamiltonians and their quality of life. The council is currently occupied exclusively by Democrats.
Council members serve four-year terms, and incumbent Councilmen Anthony Carabelli Jr., Richard “Rick” Tighe and Charles F. “Chuddy” Whalen are expected to seek re-election this year.
In addition to an all-Democratic town council, the township’s chief political leader is currently Democratic Mayor Jeff Martin.
Hamilton Democrats regained majority control of town council following the 2017 general election and assumed total power over the municipal government following the election of Martin’s slate in 2019.
“Unfortunately Hamilton Township has not really seen any change,” David Henderson, a former GOP mayoral candidate, said Thursday in an interview. “We still have financial mismanagement, we have a five-member council that is essentially a rubberstamp for everything the administration wants to do.”
Martin issued a statement last week dismissing any criticism from Henderson.
“It looks like the silly political season has started early with Dave Henderson back to his old tricks of contributing misinformation,” Martin told The Trentonian last Friday in response to a press release issued by Henderson. “Instead of Mr. Henderson talking about his Council candidates, he chooses to instead let his imagination run wild.”
This week, Henderson is talking emphatically about Diszler, Boozan and DeMarco.
“These three strong conservative candidates offer that real change that Hamilton Township needs,” Henderson said of the GOP trio. “Good government is nurtured and fostered through good debate.”
Eight Republican candidates sought the Hamilton GOP’s endorsement for town council this year, according to Henderson.
After an open and thorough process, Diszler, Boozan and DeMarco emerged victorious in receiving the Hamilton Republican Committee’s blessing.