While none of the local races are contested this year, this is a presidential election year and in Chester, there are a pair of write-in candidates for the school board.

Chester Consolidated School Board has Mike Tomasco looking to join the K-8 board of education and West Morris Regional has Don Storms hoping to take Chester Borough's first ever seat on the regional board.

And while Hurricane Sandy may have taken away electricity and water and heat from residents, officials are making sure they still have the right to vote.

In Chester Borough:

• Republicans Mathew Finney and newcomer Elizabeth Gugliemini are unopposed in their run for Borough Council.
• There are no candidates on the ballot for a three-year seat on the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education. However, local business owner Don Storms announced his candidacy last month for the open slot as a write-in candidate.
• Voting will take place in the Borough Municipal Hall.

In Mendham Borough:

• Council President John Andrus and Stanley Witczak III are running unopposed for two, three-year terms on the Borough Council.
• Mendham Borough Board of education has three candidates for three open slots. S. Beth Cocuzza, Anne Marie Hornyak and Frederick K. Schoenbrodt
• Voting booths are being delivered to the Mendham Fire Department where there is a generator.

In Chester Township:

• Council President Karen Powell and Jacqueline Spinelli are running unopposed for town council.
• Two candidates are on the ballot for the Chester Consolidated School Board,  Christine Hofstetter and Carolyn Kleppe-Collins of Pleasant Hill Road.
• The third set could be filled by write-in candidate Mike Tomasco, who also threw his hat into the ring last month.
• All voting will be held at the Municipal Building due to damage from Hurricane Sandy.

In Mendham Township:

• Rick Merkt and Christopher Baumann are running unopposed. Merkt is an incumbent, running for retention of his seat while Baumann is a newcomer to the council.
• Voters in Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5 can vote at the Brookside Engine Co. District 2 votes at the Ralston Fire House.

Beyond Mendham and Chester we have a pair of public questions to be answered as well as a presidential election that a low turnout in post-Sandy New Jersey could favor the GOP.