Council Incumbents Re-elected in Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Council incumbents Anthony Pellegrino and Jeff DeSalvo were re-elected to new terms, fending off challenger Donald Sena in Tuesday's elections, according to preliminary results posted by the Monmouth County Board of Elections.

Pellegrino was the top vote getter, earning 1,199 votes. DeSalvo followed closely in second with 1,098 votes. Sena, a Democratic challenger looking to break into a Republican-dominated council, wound up with 593 votes.

Pellegrino, entering his third term, said reelection is validation from the borough's residents that they appreciate the job he's done over the years.

"It's definitely a good feeling. It restores you a bit," he said during a brief telephone interview Tuesday night. "Sometimes you sit up there and you don't know if you have the support of the residents. It restores that feeling that people are supportive of what I'm doing."

DeSalvo expressed a similar sentiment, saying he was proud and honored by his election to a second term.

Both winners said they will continue to focus on keeping taxes down and cutting costs at a municipal level in their new terms.

"It's all about the economy right now and controlling the spending; keeping taxes down," Pellegrino said. "The whole area, everyone is hurting and we've got to do our best to keep residents happy."

DeSalvo agreed. 

"I'm going to try and control our taxes in town," he said. "That's my number one aim."