Madison GOP Names Nominees for Council Vacancy

The Madison Republican Committee has nominated three candidates to fill a vacant Borough Council seat left by the resignation of Jeannie Tsukamoto last week.

The committee unanimously nominated Pat Rowe, Martin Barbato and Ed Rebholz at its Tuesday meeting, Madison Republican Chairman Paul Daly said.

Madison's governing body this month is expected to appoint one of the three GOP candidates to fill the remainder of Tsukamoto's term, which expires at the end of December. The next Borough Council meeting is 8 p.m. Monday.

Rowe already is a GOP candidate for one of the two Madison Borough Council seats up for vote in November. He is running for office with Republican Councilman Rob Catalanello, who holds the other seat up for vote.

They're running against Democratic nominees Maureen Byrne and Jeff Gertler.

Barbato and Rebholz are former council members.

Catalanello and Rowe, the Madison Board of Education vice president, won the GOP nominations for the two council seats up for vote in November after a five-way contest in the June Republican primary.

Daly said in an interview he "would be pleasantly surprised" if the council
—which was comprised of three Democrats and three Republicans counting Tsukamoto—appoints Rowe amid ongoing election campaigns. But he said Rowe would be a good choice because he has been following the issues and his appointment would allow for continuity if he wins a seat in the General Election in November.

The six-member Borough Council is comprised of three Democrats and three Republicans, including whomever is appointed to Tsukamoto's vacant seat. Mayor Bob Conley, a Democrat, votes in the event of a tie.

"Pat has been closely following issues before the council for years, but has been following council meetings particularly closely since receiving the party's nomination," Daly wrote in an email.

"In addition, based on his experience with the BOE, Pat has extensive knowledge regarding one of the most important issues that will come before the Council in the next few months: the Green Village Road School project."

Barbato and Rebholz also have experience serving on the council and will be able to step in seamlessly, Daly said.

Tsukamoto opted not to run for re-election and sent a resignation letter to the borough clerk last week. She did not say why she resigned.