This year’s council candidates include Democrats Ed Zipprich, left, and Michael Ballard, center, and Republican Linda Schwabenbauer, right. Missing is Schwabenbauer running mate Dana McArthur. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The primary races for two Red Bank council seats will be uncontested in June, with the Democrats and Republicans having firmed up their two-person tickets Monday.

According to filings with the borough clerk made by Monday’s deadline, Ed Zipprich, a Democrat seeking his fourth three-term on the council, will pair up with Michael Ballard, a board of ed and planning board alternate making his second run for the governing body.

Republican incumbent Linda Schwabenbauer, facing her first re-election race, will be joined by Dana McArthur, an apparent political newcomer. McArthur, a McLaren Street resident, could not be reached for information.

Schwabenbauer, a CPA who leads the borough’s budget-setting efforts, came out of nowhere in 2014 to win a spot on the council, knocking out Zipprich running mate Juanita Lewis.

Zipprich, a retired law office manager, has been on the council since 2009.

The two parties have a 3-3 balance of power on the council, with Mayor Pasquale Menna voting when deadlocks occur. Menna is faces re-election in 2018.