Waterford Republicans hold both Township Committee seats

Republicans Jaclyn Hettinger and Colin Matthews won the two open seats on the Waterford Township Committee, narrowly defeating Democratic challengers Joel Thompson and Pete Wristbridge and maintaining the party’s control of the governing body.

Hettinger received 1,946 votes; Matthews received 1,869. Thompson received 1,798, while Wristbridge received 1,786.

The Republican victories preserve the party’s four-member majority on the five-member committee. Hettinger and Matthews succeed Republican Committee members Robert Doney and Thomas GianGiulio, who did not seek re-election.

Wristbridge serves on the Waterford Environmental Commission. Thompson previously ran for the Township Committee as a Republican and lost to independent Andrew Wade, 53%-46%. He switched parties and ran as a Democrat in 2025, finishing fourth behind Republicans Stephanie Jones-F and Edward Yucis and Democrat Richard Yeatman.

Republicans hold four of the five committee seats, while Wade, an independent, holds the remaining seat.

Waterford is one of Camden County’s most Republican municipalities. Donald Trump carried the township by 24 points in 2024, while Jack Ciattarelli defeated Sherrill there by 17 points in 2025.