Mr. Lewis was the top vote-getter with 1,620 votes, while Ms. Gold was only five behind with 1,615 votes.

 Republican contender Richard Nicoletti earned 878 votes. Green Party candidate Patrick Goldsmith garnered 318 votes. Totals include absentee ballots.

   After two years of uncontested elections, Democrats faced challenges this year from the Green and Republican parties.

   Mr. Goldsmith said he will continue to advocate for tenants' rights despite his election defeat. He was calling for a closer look at practices by apartment- management firms and the municipal housing department.

   "I'm still going to work hard for tenants' rights," he said, noting that his effort stems from what he sees as unfair control of the political process by big money and corporations.

   Mr. Goldsmith said that, despite the outcome, the election year has been valuable for Green Party building.
   "We've grown from being a club of concerned people to a real party," he said. "I feel New Jersey has a real Green Party this year."

   Mr. Nicoletti said he accepted defeat by Mr. Lewis and Ms. Gold, whom he described as "decent people." He said Republicans in Plainsboro were greatly outspent by Democrats and were at a disadvantage due to demographic changes in the state.

   Mr. Lewis said he was pleased and humbled by the community's support.

   "I was really very pleasantly surprised and very humbled by the level of the vote we got," he said. "We were so pleased we got that sort of a vote of confidence from the community. It makes us comfortable that we are moving in a direction that is a comfortable one for this community."

   Mr. Lewis, who has served on the Township Committee since 1995 and has been deputy mayor since 1998, expressed excitement for the future of Plainsboro's Village Center and ongoing open-space conservation efforts, and said he and his running mate will continue to work for tax stability in the municipality.

   He said there are challenges ahead as well, noting that new, quality-of-life issues will emerge as the township grows. "This is going to be a critical new phase to improve upon and maintain our quality of life," he said.

   Ms. Gold, who has served on the Township Committee since 2000, similarly expressed her thanks to voters.

   "I'm very pleased with the outcome," she said Wednesday. "Neil and I are grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the community, and really excited about the great response from voters."

   Ms. Gold said she is "excited to be at the table" for what's coming before the committee, such as the Village Center and the new library, and said the campaign gave her and Mr. Lewis an opportunity to meet with residents.

   "We got some very good feedback," she said. "And I plan to spend the next three years trying to implement some of those suggestions."