The Bernards Township Democratic Committee kicks off its official election campaign Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Valley Park Pavilion, 3405 Valley Road, Basking Ridge with a full slate of candidates represented along with honored guests. 

The public is invited to the event to meet Elizabeth Graner and Adam Subervi, candidates for the two open seats on the Bernards Township Committee. They will outline their objectives for township governance and seek current concerns of those attending.

Graner, a proud member of the national teachers’ union, is a dedicated high school English teacher in Rahway. She moved to Bernards because of the township’s reputation for excellent public schools which she wanted for her son. She works consistently to benefit all New Jersey students and teachers. She also serves as a governor’s appointee on the Somerset County Board of Taxation.

Subervi currently serves as in-house counsel on behalf of a leading medical technology company. An Iraq War veteran, Subervi began his career on active duty in the Marine Corps as a military prosecutor. After leaving active duty, he continued his service in the Marine Corps Reserve, and is presently a colonel and senior judge.  Before going in-house, Subervi served as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office in Newark, where he led investigations and prosecutions relating to white color crime, narcotics trafficking, organized crime and violent crime. He and his wife settled in the township for the same reason as Graner’s — excellent public schools for their children.

Ana Duarte McCarthy, elected this past November and is the sole Democrat on the five-member Township Committee, will attend the kickoff as will additional honored guests.  

Among  them will be Sue Altman who is  running for New Jersey’s 7th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. As executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, Altman and the progressive non-profit have focused on combating political corruption in Trenton. She is a former teacher and basketball coach now based in Hunterdon County. She will describe her vision for effective leadership in Congress and her plans to defeat the incumbent, Republican Thomas Keane Jr.

Also included are members of the Somerset County Board of Commissioners. Representatives of the Andy Kim for Senate campaign also are expected.