Committee Incumbents Scharfenberger, Settembrino Re-Elected

"We're really ecstatic," said Scharfenberger, who has served on Middletown's Township Committee since 2005. "It's hard to put into words how great it feels to have a decisive victory."

Tuesday's win for Scharfenberger and Settembrino, who won his seat in 2010, means Middletown's Township Committee remains under Republican control.

Scharfenberger said that his focus in the upcoming term will fall upon increasing economic development in town and completing a major federal beach replenishment project designed to protect the Bayshore. 

"We have a full plate of initiatives we're going to dive into," he said. 

Committee members rotate the mayor position on a yearly basis—Scharfenberger was elected to the position by the governing body for 2013. 

Though vote tallies from nearly all districts in Middletown were counted Tuesday night, results remain unofficial until mail-in and provisional ballots are counted.

Baum and Olsen ran a campaign focusing on increased government transparency in Middletown. The pair championed broadcasting Township Committee meetings on television, something that Scharfenberger said was cost-prohibitive.

"We worked hard and we're going to continue to work hard," said Baum, who also offered her congratulations to her opponents.

Baum said that she became involved in local government in 2010 and plans to continue attending municipal meetings and studying the issues. 

"I'm not going anywhere," she said. 

The mayor joined other local and state Republican candidates including Gov. Chris Christie to await election results in Asbury Park Tuesday night. He called Christie's victory "something special."

"It was a great night all around," Scharfenberger said.