BY WALTER ELLIOTT
NEWARK – Election Season 2024 – which has been unlike any other since 1788 – is ramping up to an 8 p.m. Nov. 5 crescendo.
Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin’s Election Division office has been receiving Vote By Mail Ballots either by mail or through designated dropboxes. Eight early voting polling stations among five “Local Talk” towns will be open from 10 a.m. Oct 26 until 6 p.m. Nov. 3.
The public may hopefully get an idea who will be the 47th President of the United States and which major party has control of Congress soon after the polls close, the drop boxes are locked and the postmarking of VBMB stop at 8 p.m. Nov. 5.
“Idea” is the operative word as certifying the tabulations may take longer than the traditional 14-day period. “This May Take a While,” first headlined by “Local Talk” in 2020, may be appropriate again – and it may not be because of late VBMBs, malfunctioning voting machines or recount challenges.
This is the first Presidential Election since Georgia and some other states enacted counting changes – some of which were made law with several weeks to spare.
There may also be legal challenges that will keep the results unofficial until the Year End Holidays. There were 70 voting challenges lodged in federal and state courts in November and December 2020.
The expression “All Politics Are Local” applies here this time. Voters will also have a say on who will represent them at the county Hall of Records here, in City Hall and on the Boards of Education.
Irvington is having a special election to fill a “to be announced” unexpired council member’s term. South Orange voters are to decide on whether its village officials should sell its water infrastructure to a private company.
Herewith are the offices and candidates up for votes as they basically arrear on the Essex County Sample (Block) Ballot:
PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES
Democratic: Vice President Kamala D. Harris, of Oakland, Calif., pending a majority of popular votes and the Electoral College, could become the first woman and first of African American and South Indian descent. Gov. Tim Walz, of St. Paul, Minn. is running as her vice presidential candidate.
Republican: Donald J. Trump, whose voting address is Palm Beach, Fla., looks to become the first President since Caldwell, N.J. native Grover Cleveland to hold two nonconsecutive terms. U.S. Senator JD Vance, of Middleton, Ohio, is his VP running mate.
The Libertarian Party has nominated Chase Oliver, of Tennant, Ga., and Mike ter Maat, of Kinsale, Va. to run.
The Socialism and Liberation Party has fielded Claudia de la Cruz, of Washington, D.C., and Karina Garcia, of Queens, N.Y.’s Elmhurst section.
The Socialist Equity Party is supporting Joseph Kishmore, of Oak Park, Ill., and Jerry White, of Queens, N.Y.
Socialist Workers Party is endorsing Miamian Rachele Fruit and Oakland’s Margaret Trowe.
The U.S. Constitution Party brought back Randall A. Terry, of Arlington, Va, and introduced Stephen E. Broden of Irving, Texas.
Next on the ballot is the former independent team of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of South Walpole, Mass. and Nicole Shanahan, of Oakland, Calif. Kennedy suspended his campaign and threw his support to Trump Aug. 23 – too late to have his name removed from ballots here and in other states. Voting for Kennedy-Shanahan will not be counted as votes for Trump-Vance.
The Green Party has entered Jill Stein, of Fall River, Mass., and Rudolph Ware, of Santa Barbara, Calif.
U.S. CONGRESS
Senator
There are five candidates on the ballot looking for voters’ consent in succeeding Robert “Bob” Menendez, of Paramus, who resigned Aug. 20. He had talked about filing petitions to run as an independent before his being convicted this summer by a federal New York jury for being an unregistered foreign agent.
Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), should he be elected as the state’s junior senator, would be giving up his Bordentown-based Third Congressional Seat in the House of Representatives.
Curtis Bashaw (R-Cape May) is a hotel businessman. Kenneth R. Kaplan (L-Parsippany) was a Newark native who was raised in West Orange. Patricia G. Mooneyham (SL-Turnersville) is under her “Vote Better.” Banner. Joannie Kuniansky (SWP-W. New York) had previously run in the Eighth Congressional District primary and for governor. Christina Khalil (G-Hackensack) is a MSW degree holder from Ramapo College.
House of Representatives
Eighth Congressional District: Newark’s East and North Wards, Union County’s Elizabeth and 10 Hudson County towns whole or in part.
Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) is the incumbent who is seeking his second elective term. The younger Menendez is also on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey directors board. Anthony Valdes (R- Newark) is a multiple dwelling inspector for the N.J. Department of Community Affairs. Pablo D. Olivera (Labor – Newark) is a former Belleville Public Schools teacher. Lea Sherman (SWP – Secaucus) had previously run for Congressional and N.J. General Assembly office. Christian Robbins (G-Old Bridge) is a UPS operations supervisor.
10th CD: Newark’s Central, West and South Wards; Irvington, East Orange, Orange, Montclair’s Fourth Ward/South End; Caldwell, Essex Fells and Verona in “West Essex;” Hudson County’s “Central” Jersey City plus eight Union County towns.
LaMonica McIver (D-Newark) and Carmen Bucco (R-Nutley), are squaring off for the second time in three months. There are four other on-ballot candidates for voters who want to upset the major party joust.
A majority of CD10 voters chose McIver in an Aug. 14 special election to complete the late Donald Payne, Jr. ‘s unfinished term through Jan. 3. They are now competing for a full two-year House term.
Cynthia A. Johnson (SL – Glen Ridge), an Essex County College adjunct professor, is running under her own “C4C 2024” slogan. Michelle Middleton (SE – Millburn) says she is running “For All of Us!” The former NYPD officer had independently run in the 2022 Newark West Ward Council race.
Donna Weiss (USC-North Bergen) calls herself a “Social Activist.” Jon Carlos Serrano, (G-Hasbrouck Heights) is part of the Green Party ticket.
11th CD: West Orange, South Orange, Maplewood, Bloomfield, the rest of Montclair, Belleville, seven “West Essex,” four “Southwestern” Passaic County and 25 Morris County towns.
Mikie Sherril (D- Montclair), a former military helicopter pilot, is seeking re-election.
Joseph Belnome (R-Belleville) is a property maintenance inspector. Johsua Lanzara (SL-Chester) is running under the “Truth Freedom Prosperity” flag. Lily Benavides (G-Lake Hiawatha) has had political activism from Montclair State University to Chicago.
ESSEX COUNTY
Sheriff
Amir Jones (D-East Orange) and Nicholas Pansini (R-Montclair), who both have law enforcement experience, are looking to succeed Sheriff Armando Fontoura. Fontoura (D-Fairfield) has decided to retire after 10 straight terms.
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Incumbent Juan M. Riveria, Jr. (D-Newark) and challenger Jeffrey M. Polewka (R-Nutley) are to square off on the ballot.
MUNICIPAL RACES
IRVINGTON has a pair of “fresh yet familiar” faces to fill an unexpired Township Council term in a special election.
Yasmina C. King, who has run for ward council before, is flying her own, “Your Voice My Mission” banner.
Also vying for the unexpired seat, as “Democrat for Council” is Anthony A. Vauss, Jr. – as in the son of Mayor Anthony “Tony” Vauss, Sr.
The elder Vauss, as “Team Irvington Strong” campaign manager, has annually entered council and board of education candidates for election. The younger Vauss, however, is running on a separate slogan.
Another curious factor is that the two replacement candidates are vying for “an unexpired term” for a still-sitting council member. None of the current at- large council members – Darlene Brown, Sean Evans and Charnette Frederic – have announced his or her stepping down as of press time.
WEST ORANGE – Two incumbents and four challengers are vying for three four-year Township Council seats on the ballot.
Incumbents Michele Casalino and Tammy Williams are running on their own respective “Always Working for West Orange” and “Moving Forward Together” slogans.
Incumbent Dr. William “Bill” Rutherford can only be re-elected by write-in. The former council president was left off the ballot after a Superior Court-Newark judge ruled that he did not have the minimum petition signatures.
Doug Adams is on his “A Bridge Forward” platform.
Former Councilman Joe Krakoviak says “Together We Can Do Better.” He is making a return after a self-imposing term limit.
Jonathan Redwine says he has “Principled Leadership for West Orange.”
Joyce L. Rudin advocates “Improving Your Quality of Life.”
MAPLEWOOD – Former mayor and incumbent Nancy J. Adams and newcomer Malia Herman are running as Democrats for the two Township Committee seats. They are running unopposed since the Republican Democratic Committee did not file any petitions.
BLOOMFIELD has its mayor and a special at-large council seat before voters. Incumbent Democratic First Ward Councilwoman Jenny Mundell is dueling with Republican challenger David Tucker. They are looking to be mayor-turned-State Assemblyman Michael Venezia’s successor.
Councilman Ted Gamble upset Mundell and Venezia when council colleges appointed him as mayor on the latter’s resignation. Gamble, however, lost to Mundell in the June 4 primary.
Democrat Monica Charris Tabares and Republican Russell Mollica seek to complete an unexpired council term. Charris Tabares was appointed as interim member upon Gamble’s promotion to mayor.
The two GLEN RIDGE Borough Council candidates – Incumbent Rebecca Meyer and newcomer Steve Zimet – are running unopposed and under “Glen Ridge Civic Conference Committee” endorsement.
The CCC seeks to curtail partisan borough politics by interviewing and endorsing prospective municipal and school board candidates. Glen Ridge’s Democratic and Republican committees are part of the larger party. One can run and win without such endorsement.
Council President Ann Marie Morrow declined re-election.
SOUTH ORANGE – BALLOT QUESTION REFERENDUM
Village voters, the majority of whom are likely South Orange Water Department customers, are being asked on whether to approve the sale of the department’s infrastructure to New Jersey American Water for $19.7 million.
The measure also carries NJAW holding off any water rate increases until three years after the proposed sale. The company then makes three percent annual increases on post-sale years three to five. Water service to municipal properties will be “at no cost for a period of years.”
The question also includes the company offering up to $50 million for any lead service line replacement when found and its H20 Help to Others Program.
NJAW, subject to N.J. Board of Public Utilities approval, would be buying the water supply infrastructure from the village. The company, with village approval, has been making repairs and managing the billing since Jan. 1, 2018, when South Orange’s contract with the East Orange Water Commission ended.
BOARDS of EDUCATION
ORANGE has three candidates seeking as many school board seats. Saika Sherif, who was among the first elected Orange Board of Education panelists, is asking for re-election. Challenger India Williams advocates “Equity Over Equality.” Incumbent David Kent Armstrong says it is “About Our Children.” Board Member Derrick Henry has decided against re-election.
“Local Talk” is understanding should this be your first news of the annual OBOE election. Its delivery crew noticed, for the first time in four years, that there were no such candidate signs, palm cards or banners posted in Orange as of Oct. 17.
Perhaps the campaign managers feel that no publicity was needed since there are three candidates running to fill three seats. Orange, in recent elections, have had less than 3,000 voters, from a registration pool of some 15,000, deciding who are in municipal and school board offices.
WEST ORANGE – Four candidates are seeking the two three-year terms and a fifth to complete an unexpired term.
Adam Kraemer, who has previously run for other public office, is making a solo run. Jeffrey Litchman is flying his own “For the Children” flag.
Incumbents Brian Rock and Eric Steveson share their “West Orange Forward” standard.
Dr. Dia Bryant is making her first elective run -but only to complete an unexpired term the former school principal and “For Our Kids” banner holder was appointed to fill the vacancy last year. She is running unopposed.
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD voters face a ballot of seven candidates, among two slates and a solo runner, for three seats on their two-town board.
Former board member Jeff Bennett, of South Orange, Maplewoodian and U.S. Government Accounting Office assistant director Deidre Brown and South Orange’s Meadowlark Media CEO Bimal Kapadia “Include, Achieve, Inspire.”
Maplewoodian and former teacher Paul Stephan is running his own “Empowering Students Together’ campaign.
Current board president Dr. Qawi Telesford and vice president Arun Vadlamani, both of South Orange, and newcomer Bethany Joseph, of Maplewood, are running on their “Community, Collaboration, Stability” platform.
Former board president Kaitlin Wittleder, of Maplewood, has declined re-election.
BLOOMFIELD has two slates of three candidates each to choose three school board members from.
Incumbent Michael Heller, Vice President Shane Berger and member Viviana Rojas are on their “More Classroom Space” slate.
Jessica A. Alvies, Joelle Berhard and Matthew J. Brewster are “All For Kids” challengers.
MONTCLAIR voters have six candidates – one slate and three independents – to put into three board seats.
Challenger Andrew Gideon, board appointee Sean L. Long and newcomer June Raegner are running on the “Every Student Thrives” pennant.
Jada Roman is on her own “Inclusive Educational Community” ticket. Holly Shaw wants to have “Every Student Counts.” Incumbent Eric Scherzer wants “Accountability, Continuity, Transparency.”
Board Vice President Mfreke “Monk” Inyang and members Yvonne Bouknight and Brian Fleischer are not seeking re-election.
GLEN RIDGE has three candidates running for as many school board seats. Incumbents Anthony Bonnett and Kristin O’Neil and debuting candidate Roy DeLorenzi are running with Civic Conference Committee endorsement. David Campbell, who ran with Bonnett and O’Neil in 2021, declined re-election.
BELLEVILLE voters are to choose from four candidates to fill two Belleville Board of Education Trustee seats.
Kenia Nicole Arroyabee wants to be “Bridging the Gaps.” Incumbent Nicole Coviello-Daddis wants to put “Belleville’s Children First.”
Esteban Leon is campaigning under “A Better Belleville” banner. Mayor Michael Melham has been fielding himself and other trustee and township council candidates under his SBB brand for several years.
Jean Rodriguez Gillis says she is among “Teachers for Belleville.” Trustee Nelson Barrara has opted not to run for re-election.
NUTLEY voters have four candidates to fill three board seats. All three incumbents and the one challenger are running under their own slogans.
Current board Vice President Joseph Battaglia has no slogan on ballot. Incumbent Daniel Fraginals features “Foundation and Future.” Stephen Gilberti says he has “7 Million Reasons.” to run again. Member Nicholas Scotti says he is putting “Nutley Families First.”
The following Early Voting Stations are open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sundays:
- BLOOMFIELD – Watsessing Park Community Center.
- EAST ORANGE – City Hall
- IRVINGTON – Municipal Building
- WEST ORANGE – South Mountain Reservation Complex Berson Family Center
- NEWARK: Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Essex County Complex Parking Garage -West Market Street Entrance, Weequahic Park Community Center – Elizabeth and Meeker avenues Entrance, West Side Park Community Center 600 South 17th St.
“Local Talk” 24/7 Ballot Drop Box Locations until 8 p.m. Nov. 5 are:
- BLOOMFIELD – Firehouse No. 3, 124 E. Passaic Ave.
- EAST ORANGE – City Hall
- GLEN RIDGE – Municipal Building.
- IRVINGTON – Police Department portico, Beasley Civic Square
- MAPLEWOOD – Police and Court Building, 1618 Springfield Ave.,
- MONTCLAIR – Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Ave.,
- NUTLEY – Town Hall, 1 Kennedy Dr.,
- ORANGE – Freddie Polhill Law and Justice Complex, 29 Park St.
- SOUTH ORANGE – Firehouse Gazebo, 26 Sloan St.
- WEST ORANGE – South Mountain Complex Parking Deck, Town Hall – 66 Main St.
- NEWARK – City Hall, Essex County Hall of Records.
Nov. 5 voting machine polling station locations will be announced in advance. Details and answers may be found at Essexclerk.com.
