By Walter Elliott
NEWARK – Major political party voters both here in “Local Talk” land and statewide, once again, will be making electoral history beyond who they choose here July 7.
Members of the Democratic and Republican parties faithful, indeed, choose Tuesday who will be their standard bearers – from the President of the United States to town hall council or committee members – for the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.
They will also be participating in what Gov. Phil Murphy has called a “hybrid election.” Murphy, in May, cited the need to curb the spread of the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus in moving the June 6 party primaries’ date to July 7.
The July 7 primaries are following May 12’s combined nonpartisan municipal and board of education elections in that it will be done by almost all-Vote By Mail ballot. Voters must make their choices, sign the ballots and have them postmarked or delivered on or by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
July 7’s process, however, can be called “VBM Election 2.0” for several reasons.
Murphy (D-Rumson) has directed Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin here and his 20 statewide county clerk colleagues to have at least one traditional voting machine polling station open Tuesday 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Essex County’s polling booth is to be here at its Hall of Records, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., for those who have not received their VBM ballots by now or are otherwise unable to complete them.
The Governor also asked the state’s 21 county clerks to locate five satellite VBM drop boxes as an alternative to the United States Postal Service. Those five Essex County locations are:
· East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza.
· Montclair Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Ave.,
· Newark City Hall, Green Street entrance, 920 Broad St.
· West Caldwell Municipal Building, 30 Clinton Rd.
· West Orange’s South Mountain Arena Recreation Complex, 560 Northfield Ave.
Murphy had also extended the VBM ballot reception grace period from 48 hours to July 14. The extended period, on one hand, may counter the some 300 May 12 postmarked ballots that the Hall of Records had received from the USPS after 8 p.m. May 14. The downside, however, is that no official results may be known until July 14.
The following is a summary of candidates seeking their respective party endorsement to run to occupy the White House and Congress to the county Hall of Records and town halls.
PRESIDENT
The Democratic nominee contest, on the ballot, is between former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, of Delaware, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Biden, however, is considered the presumptive candidate since Sanders halted his campaign in late March.
Republican primary is a contest-on-ballot between incumbent Donald J. Trump (New York) and former Massachusetts Governor William “Bill” Weld, of Boston.
CONGRESS
New Jersey party members are to choose a candidate each for the Senate and at least four candidates for the House of Representative.
2020’s sole U.S. Senator primary is to winnow a candidate each from among six runners.
The Democratic primary pits incumbent Cory A. Booker (Newark) against challenger Lawrence “Larry” Hamm (Montclair). Hamm is heading a “Not Me, Us” slate that has also fielded runners for some of the Essex County Board of Freeholders’ positions.
Republican party voters here and statewide have four runners to pick from: Eugene Anatgnos (East Hanover), Tricia Flanagan (Lawrenceville), Rikin “Rik” Metha (Morris Township), Natalie Lynn Rivera (Sicklerville) or Hirsh V. Singh (Atlantic City).
“Local Talk” party voters are to meanwhile decide party banner holders in their three House of Representatives’ Congressional districts.
8th U.S. District: Including Belleville and Newark’s North and East wards.
This C.D.’s Democratic primary has incumbent Albio Sires (West New York) facing challenges from Hector Omar Osequera, Jr. (Not Me, Us-Union City) and Will Sheehan (Sanders 2020-Bayonne).
Whoever gets the Democratic favor is to face presumptive Republican nominee Jason Todd Mushnik (Jersey City) Nov. 3.
10th U.S. District: Incl. East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Orange, South Orange; Newark’s other three wards and the lower two-thirds of Bloomfield, Montclair and West Orange.
Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne, Jr. (Newark) is facing challenges from independent runner John J. Flora (Jersey City) and Sanders 2020/Not Me, Us member Eugene David Mazo (Newark).
Jennifer “Jen” Zinone (Bayonne) is the presumptive Republican nominee.
11th U.S. District: Incl. Nutley and the upper thirds of Bloomfield, Montclair and West Orange.
Incumbent Mikie Sherrill (Montclair) is seeking the Democratic nod towards a second straight term. Republicans are to meanwhile endorse Rosemary Becchi (Parsippany).
ESSEX COUNTY
Board Of Chosen Freeholders
At Large (Four): Incumbents Patricia Seabold (Livingston), Rufus Johnson (Newark), Brendan Gill (Montclair) and Romaine Graham (Irvington) are running together on the Essex County Democratic Committee party line.
Democratic “Not Me, Us” challengers are Sabre Burroughs (Newark), Anthony Diaz (Newark) and Simone J. Jelks-Bandison (East Orange).
Monique Headen (Newark), Gynise Gotto (Belleville), Bernarda Quezada (Newark) and Alexandra Campisi (Fairfield) are running together under the Essex Republican Party organization banner.
District Freeholder
(One of Five):
District One: Balance of Newark.
Incumbent Democrat Robert Mercado, barring any write-in party primary campaigners, is running unchallenged. The ERPO did not field a primary candidate.
District Two: Irvington, Maplewood and Newark’s South and Central (part) wards.
Wayne Richardson (Newark) is also running unchallenged towards the Nov. 3 General Election.
District Three: East Orange, Orange, South Orange and Newark’s West and Central (part) wards.
Tyshammie Cooper (East Orange) is running unchallenged in the Democratic primary. No GOP.
District Four: West Orange and “West Essex.”
Incumbent Leonard Luciano (West Caldwell) and Jennifer Larsen (Not Me, Us-West Orange) are vying for the Democratic nod. Either one is to face ERPO-runner Adam Kreamer (West Orange) Nov. 3.
District Five: Bellville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair, Nutley.
Incumbent Carlos Pomares (Bloomfield) is running unchallenged in the Democratic primary. The ERPO did not file a challenger.
County Clerk:
Incumbent Democrat Christopher Durkin (South Orange) and challenging Republican Kristina Christoforou (Fairfield) are running unchallenged for their respective party endorsements.
MUNICIPALITIES
West Orange At Large Council
Incumbents Michelle A. Casalino, Jerry Guarino and Joseph Krakoviak are running unchallenged.
Maplewood Township
Committee
Incumbents Victor DeLuca and Dean Dafis have no Democratic primary challengers. The township’s Republican committee did not file a candidate.
Township Clerk Elizabeth Fritzen said that a polling station will be set up for 6 a.m.-8 p.m. July 7 at the Hilton Community Center, 120 Burnett St., The Woodland at 60 Woodland Ave., and at the Municipal Building at 574 Valley St.
Bloomfield Ward Council
Incumbents Jenny Mundell, Nicholas Joanow and Sarah Cruz are running without a primary challenger for their respective First, Second and Third Ward seats. There are no Bloomfield Republican candidates on the ward ballots.
Those who have not received their VBM ballots by now are to call and/or e-mail Durkin’s Elections Division office.
