BY WALTER ELLIOTT
NEWARK – Most of the 40 incumbents who competed or ran for the 55 state, county, municipal and/or boards of education seats here Nov. 7 were re-elected.
Most of the 40 incumbents had Essex County Democratic Committee endorsement and support helped them keep most of the 72.727 percent of seats on the ballots. Some incumbents, however, were running for new or higher office; familiar faces in new places.
What upsets that could be found were in several of the nonpartisan boards of education down the ballot.
There were, as of 10:36 p.m. Nov. 7, 87,966 ballots cast from among 572,840 registered voters across all 22 Essex County municipalities. That ratio comes out to a 15.36 participation percentage rate.
That percentage, on one hand, may have come from where some of the two, three and four-year term cycles among state, county, municipal and school board offices coincided. On the other hand, may be from this year being an off, or non-Presidential election year.
For the elections in the two-year cycle – for state senate and assembly – one has to go back to 2021. There were 180,547 votes cast from a pool of 570,791 – which comes out to 31.63 percent participating.
In 2020 for the three-year cycle – Essex County Commissioners, Maplewood Township Committee, Bloomfield and Glen Ridge ward council and the Orange, West Orange, South Orange-Maplewood, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Belleville and Nutley school boards – there were also the last Presidential election. There were 351, 931 ballots cast, or 58.06 percent, from among 606,151 registered voters.
In 2019 for the four-year cycle, we had the Assembly and East Orange Ward Council elections. 91,105 cast ballots from a pool of 532,625 – or 17.10 percent.
The following figures are unofficial for two reasons. The first is for the traditional 14-day voting machine impoundment and to grant time for any challenges and/or recounts. The second is to allow VBMBs postmarked Nov. 7 or earlier to reach the County Clerk – Elections Division and Board of Elections offices in Newark before 4:30 p.m. Nov. 10 to be counted.
STATE LEGISLATURE
27th Legislative District: (West Orange, Montclair “West Essex’s” Livingston, Millburn and Roseland plus Passaic County’s Clifton Note: figures do not include Clifton’s totals.)
State Senate
Former West Orange mayor and outgoing 34th LD Democratic Assemblyman John McKeon mustered 19,313 votes for 74.36 percent of the vote. Republican and fellow West Orangite Michael D. Byrne scored 6.659 for 25.64.
General Assembly (Select Two)
Livingston Councilwoman Dr. Rossura “Rosy” Bagolie was the top vote-getter at 18,460 or 36.54. Her fellow new coming teammate – Alixon Collazos-Gill, of Montclair, got 18.419 or 36.46 Challenging Republicans and Cliftonites Irene DeVita and Michael G. Meccam respectively drew 6,920 (or 13.70 percent) and 6,723 (or 13.31).
28 LD (Irvington, South Orange, Maplewood, Newark’s “southwest” and Vailsburg – West Wards plus Union County’s Hillside. Figures do not include Hillside.)
Senate
Former Irvington councilwoman and school board president Renee C. Burgess received all 15,207 votes. She ran unopposed.
Assembly
Incumbent Democrat Cleopatra Tucker, of Newark, topped the standings at 14,902 or 46.68. Newcomer and running mate Garnett Hall, of Maplewood, mustered 14,516 or 45.47. Newark Republicans Joy Freeman and Willie S. Jetti, respectively got 1,386 (or 4.29 ) and 1,138 (or 3.56)
29 LD: (Newark’s North, East, Central “west side” and “southwest” wards.)
Senate
Incumbent Democrat M. Teresa Ruiz received 6,557 or 84.18. Republican challenger Maritza Matthews got 1,067 or 13.70. Pablo Oliveria, of the Labor Party, got 165 or 2.12.
Assembly
Incumbent Democrats Eliana Pintor-Marin and Shanique Speight respectively mustered 6,297 (or 42.70) and 6,264 (or 42,47.) Republicans Orlando Mendez mustered 1,140 or 7.73 and Noble Milton 1,047 or 7.10.
34 LD (East Orange, Orange, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Nutley.)
Senate
Outgoing incumbent Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, of East Orange, tallied 16,754 or 76 Republican challenger Joseph Bellnome, of Belleville, garnered 5,281 or 23.97.
Assembly
Outgoing Democratic Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia garnered 16,503 or 38.78. His first-time campaigning teammate Carmen Morales, of Belleville, mustered 16,314 or 38.33. Republican James McGuire, of Nutley, received 5,023 or 11.80. The Rev. Clenard H. Childress, Jr., of East Orange, carried 4,717 or 11.08.
ESSEX COUNTY
Surrogate:
Incumbent Democrat Alturrick Kenney, of Newark, collected 60,998 or 73.98. Republican Peter Russo, of Bloomfield, registered 21,458 or 26.02.
Commissioners: At Large (Select Four)
All four incumbent Democratics shut out their Republican challengers. Livingston’s Patricia Seabold, at 60,971 or 18.92, was atop the vote standings Montclair’s Brendan Gill was next at 60,691 or 18.83, Newark’s Wayne Richardson received 59.999 or 18.61. Irvington’s Romaine Graham got 59,786 or 18.55.
Joseph Cifelli, of Fairfield, was “best of the rest” at 20,723 or 6.43. Alexandra Campisi, West Caldwell, carried 20,579 or 6.38. Aristotle Popolizio, Roseland, received 19,858 or 6.16. Michael Pocerlinko, of Caldwell, collected 19,720 or 6.12.
District: (Select One)
First (Newark’s North and East Wards plus parts of Central, South and West wards.) Incumbent Democrat Robert Mercado mastered all 4,246 votes. He ran unopposed.
Second (Irvington, Maplewood, parts of Newark’s central and South wards.) Outgoing Newark Board of Education member and Democrat A’Dorian Murray-Thomas tallied 10,768 or 91.20. Khalil Kettles and his “Working Together for Essex County” banner got 1,039 or 8.80.
Third (East Orange, Orange, South Orange and part of Newark’s West Ward.) Incumbent and former East Orange Councilwoman Tyshammie L. Cooper, who ran unopposed, carried all 12,174 votes.
Fourth (West orange and “West Essex.”) Incumbent Democrat Leonard M. Luciano topped Adam Kraemer in a battle between West Orangeites. Luciano got 17,502 or 74.79. Kraemer carried 12,719 or 25.21.
Fifth (Bloomfield, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Belleville, Nutley.) Incumbent Democrat Carlos Pomares, of Bloomfield, turned back a challenge from Republican Kristen M. Blochak, of Belleville. Pomares garnered 15,358 or 74.79. Blochak drew 5,718 or 25.21.
MUNICIPAL RACES
Irvington Council Special
Darlene Brown, on the Team Irvington Strong ticket, ran unopposed for all 2,375 votes. Brown, on Jan. 1, will complete another council member’s unexpired term.
East Orange Council
All East Orange Ward Council Democrats were elected or re-elected unopposed. Amy Lewis was returned to her First Ward seat with 1,400 votes. First time runner Sammed Monk mastered 605 voted in the Second Ward Vernon Pullins, Jr. was re-elected with 1,252 in the Third Ward. Casim L. Gomes, Jr. was re-elected in the Fourth Ward with 855. Newcomer Naima Fauntleroy was elected to the Fist Ward with 1,135.
Maplewood Township Committee.
Longtime incumbent Victor De Luca and shorter term teammate Dean Dafis ran unopposed in their Township Committee re-election. Former mayor De Luca garnered 4,368 or 50.68. Current mayor Dafis drew 4,250 or 49.32. All five committee members will meet on Jan. 1 to return Dafis or DeLuca or someone else as their mayor.
Bloomfield Ward Council
All three incumbent Democrats were swept in unopposed In the First Ward, Jenny Mundell mustered all 1,369 votes. In the Second Ward, Nicholas Joanow got all 2,138. In the Third Ward, Sarah Cruz carried all 1,195.
Glen Ridge (Select Two Council Members.)
Councilwoman Deborah Mans thanks to 1,150 votes, will become Glen Ridge’s next mayor Jan. 1. Lori Jeane Moody, at 1,140 votes, earned her first Borough Council seat. David Lefkovits, at 1,137, was returned to the council.
All three ran unopposed and with Civic Conference Committee endorsement. Incumbent Daniel T. Murphy declined re-election.
BOARDS of EDUCATION
In Maplewood-South Orange, the three balloted candidates turned back two write-in candidates. The “Together We Thrive” team of Shayna Sackett-Gable, William Meyer – both of South Orange – and Maplewoodian Elizabeth “Liz” Calahan respectively carried 5,000 (or 34.18), 4,854 (or 33.18) and 4,775 (or 32.64.)
Figures for the “Raise Your Voice – Write-In Your Choice” team of Anthony Mazziocchi and Jeff Bennett were not available as of 11 a.m. Nov. 8.
In Orange, the incumbent “The Marathon Continues” team was selected over a challenger. Dr. Fatimah Turner turned in 1,204 votes or 27.71 to top the results charts. Incumbent, but first time on “The Marathon” ticket Samantha Crockett was second at 1,175 or 27.04. Former Board President completed the return sweep with 1,067 or 25.05. “Equity in Education” challenger India Williams drew 879 or 20.23.
And, if the handbill presented by India Williams on her Facebook page is authentic, some one or some ones on the Orange Democratic Committee are either negligent or disrespectful of the separation between a nonpartisan BOE slate and a partisan political ticket.
Williams posted a palm card of Jeffry Wingfield, Dr. Fatimah Turner and Samantha Crockett with a printed “Orange Education Democratic Team.” above them. She added the following quote, made Sept. 7, from New Jersey School Boards Association CEO Dr. Timothy Purnell: “We’re in a national political polarization right now and that’s in juxtaposition with our local boards trying to work in the best interests of our students. The Association (NJSBA) is doubling down on making sure our school board elections are nonpartisan.”
This reporter could not agree more with Dr. Purnell. There is not – and there should not be – a Republican, Democratic, Labor, Conservative, Green or Garden Party way of educating our schoolchildren. Political partisanship should not cross the schoolhouse door.
Granted, Orange is six years into electing its school board. “Local Talk” has seen, however, printed materials, including banners, reading “Orange Education (or BOE) Democratic Team” in the 2020 and 2022 election campaigns.
In West Orange, challenger Maria Vera unseated incumbent Melinda Huertas for the single seat. Vera, who ran on “Strong in Education,” drew 3,246 or 66.83. Huertas and her “Empowered by Wisdom.” banner carried 1,611 or 33.17.
In Bloomfield, incumbents Kasey Dudley and Nadiesha Greene and newcomer Stephanie Parry, of “Students Parents Community,” were chosen over the “Putting Children First” slate. Parry was the night’s top vote-getter at 2,432 or 18.94 Greene and Dudley were returned with 2,386 (or 18.58) and 2,437 (or 18.28).
Jefferson Ramos was best of the rest” at 2,067 or 16.10. Santra Tufaro-Sarapolus was next at 1,930 or 15.03. Pedro Antonio Gongora garnered 1,680 or 13.06.
In Montclair, voters returned the “Progress, Integrity, Dedication” team of Phaedra Dunn, Melanie Deysher and Allison Silverstein over another three-person ticket and three solo campaigners.
Dunn topped the charts with 3,476 or 19.39. Deysher was next at 3,141 or 17.52. The appointed Silverstein made the cut with 3,106 or 17.32. Independent runner Kimberly Robinson Santos placed fourt with 2,480 or 13.83. Fellow soloist Alex Binkley was next at 1,412 or 7.88.
“A Brighter Tomorrow” runner Theodore Graham garnered 1,457 or 8.13. Teammate Jessica Glass was next at 1,114 or 6.21.
Independent Stuart Ball came in at 1,054 or 5.88. “ABT’s” Will Novak rounded out the field with 689 or 3.84.
Ball, who is among the six challengers, had his printed palm cards distributed at the Upper Montclair NJTransit Montclair-Boonton Line station Nov. 6.
On the card’s front, or obverse, Ball has “VOTE DEMOCRAT ELECT – STUART BALL.” One the card’s back, or reverse, he has ” On Nov. 7 – Vote Democrat Elect Stuart Ball.”
On one hand, Ball did not outrightly say “Vote Stuart Ball, Democrat for Montclair BOE.” He did not align himself with other candidates to bill themselves as “Montclair’s Democratic Education Team.” This is his first time running for elected office.
Ball, on the other hand, is a semi-retired lawyer of 50 years, with the Newark Teachers Union among his clients. The 30-year Montclair High School boys soccer coach also has 10 years as US History adjunct professorship at Essex County College.
Ball at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 9, told “Local Talk” that his “Democrat” reference, in hindsight, was “unnecessary.”
In Glen Ridge, all three who were on the ballot and CCC endorsed, were elected. Incumbent Joycelyn Gottlieb garnered 1,092 or 34.32. Incumbent Duval Hopkins Graham was next at 1,058 or 33.25. Newcomer Darius Kevin Dehnad drew 1,032 or 32.41.
In Belleville, voters replaced the two running Board of Education Trustees incumbents with a split ticket of Lissa Missagga, Brenda Pachero and Esteban Leon.
Missaggia (“Teachers for Belleville”) was the night’s top vote-getter at 1,171 or 23.40. “A Better Belleville” runners Pachero and Leon respectively tallied 1,116 (or 22.30) and 961 (or 19.20).
Former Trustee Michael Sheldon’s attempted (“Taxpayers Lives Matter”) return to the board was “best of the rest” at 592 or 1,183. Kenia Nicole (Bridging The Gap”) Arroyuabe was next at 449 or 8.97.
Incumbents Nelson Barrera and Erika V. Jacho (“Building Belleville’s Future”) were unseated. Barrera carried 415 or 8.29; Jacho got 301 or 6.01.
In Nutley, Board President Salvatore Ferraro, Board Member Lisa Danchak-Martin and Salvatore Balsamo (B VP) were returned over challenger Stephen J. Gilberti.
Ferraro found 2,458 or 28.59 to top the charts. Danchak-Martin was next at 2,305 or 27.75. Balsamo completed the return sweep with 2,260 or 27.21. Gilberti got 1,283 or 15.45.
