Rick Gardner will face a Democratic candidate in November.
Rick Gardner has served 15 years on Warren County's freeholder board, and after Tuesday he's one step closer to potentially serving three more.
With three-quarters of the county's precincts reporting as of 10:30 p.m., the incumbent Republican held an insurmountable lead over challenger Gus Bordi -- 3,180 to 1,479, according to unofficial results. Bordi conceded the race on his campaign's Facebook page.
Tuesday's primary election was the first step in Gardner's quest for a sixth term on the three-member county board.
Gardner will face at least one candidate in November's general election -- G. Carol Cook, a Democrat who last year was defeated by incumbent Republican Freeholder Jason Sarnoski. Cook ran unopposed in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
Independents had until Tuesday to file their candidacy.
Warren County primary election results
Gardner, a farmer from Franklin Township, is the longest-serving of the three sitting freeholders. He cited the county's financial stability -- its $91.8 million 2017 budget is the lowest since 2005 -- as among his strongest accomplishments.
"I think with my seasoned approach and knowledge of this county, I think you're in good shape. To protect your tax dollars ... is my highest priority," he said during an an hourlong debate last week on radio station WRNJ. "We are in a rock-solid financial position in Warren County."
Bordi, meanwhile, sought to challenge county leadership and said he wanted to embrace new ways of growing business in the rural county. He pointedly criticized the county's ability to reach out to residents.
"This is not the same Warren County as it was 20 years ago, 15 years ago," said the businessman from Hackettstown. "You feel that it's changed, you see that it's changed, it's become very diverse, both socially, economically, demographically -- it's time for a change. The leadership has to be questioned."
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.