The Republicans have a contested race in Tuesday's primary for freeholder, with four candidates battling it out for three spots.
Clayton resident Phil Tartaglione, who currently serves on the school board there, will be joined by Jonathan Mangel of Deptford, West Deptford resident Isabelita "Lita" Abele, and Richard Bradford of Monroe.
Tartaglione, Mangel and Abele have the backing of the Gloucester County Republican Organization. Bradford is running with gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler.
Abele, a native of the Philippines, said she decided to run in order to give back to the community.
"This country gave me the opportunity to get where I am today," said Abele. "I would like to take all my expertise I gathered throughout my career and use it for the benefit of all Gloucester County residents."
Abele is the president and chief executive officer of U.S. Lumber.
She hopes to bring her "business background to the county government" and "see that county government is run efficiently."
Mangel is chief financial officer for Mamacita Inc. of Vineland.
That business background is why Mangel feels he is qualified.
"I feel that it is time that Gloucester County has some people in office that care about the county and are very mindful of how the money is spent," he said.
Tartaglione, a classified information representative for Lockheed Martin, is currently in his second year on the school board in Clayton.
He unsuccessfully ran in the 1998 primary for freeholder.
"I know I can do the job," Tartaglione stated. "I've devoted quite a bit of my life to doing volunteer work."
Bradford, who works as a real estate agent, was not available for comment.
The three winners will challenge the Democratic incumbents in November's general election: Freeholder Director Stephen Sweeney, Freeholder Warren Wallace and Freeholder Frank DiMarco.
