BY WALTER ELLIOTT
IRVINGTON – The elevation of one longtime township official to the State House in Trenton Sept. 9 created an immediate effect here on the Township Council dais Monday night and a change on many “Local Talk” Nov. 8 General Election ballots.
The Essex County Democratic Committee municipal leaders selected the now-outgoing Council President Renee C. Burgess as State Senator Ronald C. Rice’s immediate successor during their convention in Bloomfield College’s Westminster Hall theater Friday.
Rice (D-Newark), after representing the 28th Legislative District for 34 years, retired to concentrate on health issues Aug. 31.
Burgess, once all the conventioneers’ votes had been voiced, walked off the theater stage to embrace Rice in the audience.
The Irvington Township Council, in a pair of walk-on, non-agenda moves Tuesday night, elevated South Ward Councilwoman Jamillah Z. Beasley as its latest Council President and appointed Darlene Brown to Burgess’ at-large council seat.
Participating registered voters in the redrawn 28th Legislative District will also see Sen. Burgess’ name on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. Her election would help fill the remainder of Rice’s term.
Burgess, pending Nov. 8 voters’ blessing, will show alongside General Assembly Members Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) and either Ralph Caputo (D-Nutley) or 34th LD Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-South Orange) on the Nov. 7, 2023 General Election ballot.
The 28th LD adds South Orange, Maplewood and Hillside onto Irvington and Newark’s West Ward-Vailsburg and “Southwest Ward.” The 2021-22 decennial redistricting have left Jasey with the decision on whether to run in the June 2023 primary. Caputo may meanwhile run in the redrawn 34th LD.
Newark’s North Ward, the West Ward’s West Side and “Southeast Ward” have gone to the 29th LD. Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Nutley have gone to the 34th LD.
Burgess becomes the first state senator from Irvington. The 19-year former Irvington Board of Education and Township Council member had been part of Mayor Anthony “Tony” Vauss’ Team Irvington Strong slate since 2018.
Vauss, indeed, was the first public official to endorse Burgess to succeed Rice.
Rice, however, was also present in the theater to have Tucker succeed him and former CWA Local 1039 union president Lionel Leach, of Irvington, get Tucker’s Assembly seat should the opportunity present itself. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was said to have also quietly favored Tucker’s nomination.
The 14-year Assemblywoman meanwhile wanted to see where the other county Democratic leaders stood.
“I’m willing to take it if offered,” Tucker said on Aug. 23, “(but) first, I’m going to find out if I’m offered it.”
The Burgess endorsement bandwagon gathered momentum going into Friday night.
All of the other Irvington Council colleagues, Irvington native and Essex County Commissioner Romaine Graham and Irvington Democratic Committee Chairwoman Baseemah Beasley backed Burgess.
Bloomfield Mayor and township Democratic committee chairman Michael Venezia and all six of his Township Council lent their support to Burgess.
Incumbent 29th LD members Sen. Teresa Ruiz and Assembly women Elana Pintor-Marin and Shanique Speight – all of Newark – endorsed their future colleague.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D-Rumson) and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo (D-Roseland) put in their backing. Cong. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) was seen sitting next to DiVincenzo in the theater audience.
East Orange, Essex County and State Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr. granted his blessing to Burgess. Newark South Ward Councilman and party chairman Rev. Patrick Council, at the convention, said that he would not oppose Burgess becoming senator – and then nominated her.
It was Jones, at the convention, who first asked convention members to have Burgess succeed Rice. The chairman then asked the voting audience to put Burgess’ name on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot.
Convention members, both times, unanimously voiced their affirmation.
Vauss and B. Beasley, on their way home, began to consider who or whom would succeed Burgess in the Township Council.
J. Beasley had been a TIS member since her initial election to the council. The Irvington South Ward resident.
Darlene Brown comes to the council as outgoing Irvington Housing Authority president. The 39-year resident had been an IHA commissioner since 2014 and its president since 2017. The South Ward District Leader had also been a seven-year president of the Campfield Block Association.
The public will have their first look at the new Irvington Township Council lineup at their Sept. 28 meeting.
