By Walter Elliott
NEWARK – Gaining clarity with the 2020 General Election results, which remain preliminary and unofficial as of press time, may depend on what governmental level one is examining.
The Presidential election, on one hand, is heading for resolution – but the question is more when than if.
The Associated Press, as of 2:30 p.m. EST Nov. 4, has challenger Joe Biden carrying 50.19 percent of the popular vote. Incumbent Donald Trump carries 48.19. The 50/48 split was found after 140.1 million votes having been counted so far.
“Having been counted so far” is the valuable phrase here in this Coronavirus-prompted hybrid General Election. There are ballots, mostly Vote By Mail, that need to be counted here and among the other states, territories, military bases and from citizens living out of the country.
Each state and territory, however, has its own ballot submission or vote cast deadlines.
Here in New Jersey, Vote By Mail Ballots that were not postmarked were to be personally given at county clerks offices or put into designated drop boxes have 48 hours’ reception grace from when all polls closed at 8 p.m.
That is the procedure the Essex County Board of Elections and County Clerk’s offices have been going by. This county clerk and election board, following Gov. Phil Murphy’s June executive order, is also allowing seven days for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver postmarked ballots to the Hall of Records here in Newark.
Although Essex County and its 20 county counterparts have been counting some three weeks early, the results will not be deemed official for another two weeks. The fortnight grace is allowance for any challenges and/or recounts.
Turning to the Electoral College, Biden, as of 3 p.m. Nov. 4, is carrying 21 states for 248 electoral votes. That tally includes New Jersey (and Essex County)’s 14 votes.
Biden has carried Essex and 12 other counties against Trump’s carrying Ocean and Cape May counties. Another six counties’ falling into Trump or Biden’s camp may be decided on or by Nov. 10.
Of 2.9 million state votes counted so far, the Biden/Trump split is 61.02 percent to 37.95 percent.
Trump is carrying 23 states nationwide for 214 electoral votes. Trump needs 54 more such votes to reach at least 270 votes – and get re-elected. Biden needs 22 to become the 46th President.
Those 22 to 54 votes are to come from six states that are still counting: Alaska, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. It may take another week before Pennsylvania to finish counting.
It appears, however, that little else has changed in the makeup of Congress down to county and municipal level elections in “Local Talk News” territory. The more local the politics in Election 2020, the more one can find upsets and close finishes.
The following results, as posted by Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin’s Elections division 8:33 p.m. Tuesday, also does not include write-in candidates or ballots.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Voters county and statewide carried top challenger Joseph R. Biden over incumbent Donald J. Trump. Biden (D-Wilmington, Del.) received 206,048 votes across Essex County. Trump (R-Palm Beach, Fla.) tallied 56,149.
Libertarian Party candidate Jo Jorgeson, of Columbia, S.C., attained 941 votes. Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, of Syracuse, N.Y. garnered 682. Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Gloria Estala La Riva, of Albuquerque, N.M., drew 186. Alliance Party candidate Roque “Rocky” De La Feunte, of San Diego, Calif., registered 163. Constitution Party candidate Don Blankenship, of Charleston, W. Va., carried 85 votes. Unity Party candidate Bill Hammons, of Colorado Springs, Co. mustered 74.
(All of the above candidates have running mates for Vice President – whose names were omitted for space.)
CONGRESSIONAL vote tallies in Essex County tended to reflect or parallel results either statewide or in districts outside of the county.
U.S. Senate Cory A. Booker, for example, was substantially re-elected over main challenger Rikin “Rik” Metha. Booker (D-Newark) tallied 200,374 votes. Metha (R-Morris Township) mustered 53,243.
Green Party Candidate Madelyn R. Hoffman, of Flanders, garnered 1,834 votes. “Of, By, For!” independent Veronica B. Fernandez, of Franklin, Sussex Co., attained 1,177. “LaRouche Was Right” runner Daniel Burke, of Princeton, received 189.
House of Representatives:
Eighth Congressional District voters, within and outside of Essex County, retained Albio Sires. Sires (D-W. New York) received 20,421 votes. Jason Todd Mushnik (R-Bayonne) mustered 6,702. Libertarian Party candidate Dan Delaney, of Hoboken, completed the field with 180.
10th CD voters returned incumbent Donald M. Payne, Jr. over main challenger Jennifer “Jen” Zinone. Payne (D-Newark) garnered 108,155 votes to Zinone (R-Bayonne)’s 8,903.
Essex County College professor Akil Khalfani’s write-in campaign placed him third in the Nov. 3 standings. There were 1,434 voters who took the West Orange resident’s call to “Go Off The Line” with him. “Building Your Legacy” independent Khaliah Fitchette, of Newark, placed fourth with 1,287. Libertarian Party candidate John Mirrone, of Elizabeth, mustered 277.
The 11th CD saw incumbent Mikie Sherrill repel challenger Rosemary Becchi. Sherrill (D-Montclair) mustered 61,901 votes to Becchi (R-Parsippany)’s 34,882.
NEW JERSEY PUBLIC QUESTIONS, county and statewide, that were approved by voters.
Question 1 – A Constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana use – was approved here 176,159 to 69,092.
It should be noted that legislation setting up the sales and distribution criteria has to be drawn up and passed by the State Legislature before anyone can avail him or herself of the passed question. The bill, which will carry the state 6.125 percent tax and a two percent tax for hosting municipalities, may be presented before Dec. 1.
Question 2 – Property tax deduction and exemption for peacetime veterans – was carried 195,262 to 44,826.
Question 3 – A Constitutional amendment to change the redistricting schedule should the state receive U.S. Census data after Feb. 15, 2021 – was approved 159,315 to 72,428.
ESSEX COUNTY
COUNTY CLERK Incumbent Christopher J. Durkin turned back Kristina Christoforou’s challenge. Durkin (D-Roseland) drew 198,395 votes from among all 22 county municipalities. Christoforou (R-Fairfield) collected 51,872.
The BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS‘ makeup remain unchanged. All four AT LARGE Essex County Democratic Committee incumbents repelled their Essex Republican Party Organization challengers countywide.
Patricia Seabold, of Livingston, topped the tallies at 190,552. Freeholder President Brendan Gill, of Montclair, was next at 189,378. Newarker Rufus I. Johnson was next at 188,185. Romaine Graham, of Irvington, completed the sweep with 186,026.
Alexandra Campisi, of Fairfield, was the best of the ERPO runners at 55,555. Gynise Gotto, of Belleville, was next with 53,821. Monique Hedden, of Newark, finished third with 53,631. Bernarda Quezada, of Newark, completed the field at 53,201.
WARD DISTRICTS
Fourth District Democratic incumbent Leonard M. Luciano turned back Republican Adam Kraemer’s challenge. Luciano, of West Caldwell, tallied 48,270 votes. Kraemer, of West Orange, carried 29,697 votes. The other four Freeholder Ward District incumbents ran unchallenged on the ballot.
Robert Mercado, of Newark, retained his First District seat with 17,847. Newarker Wayne L. Richardson was returned to his Second District seat with 38,814. Tyshammie Cooper, of East Orange, tallied 39,506 in the Third District. Carlos Pomares, of Bloomfield, mustered 48,840 in the Fifth District.
MUNICIPAL
BLOOMFIELD‘s three ward Township Council members were returned unopposed on the ballot for three-year terms. First Ward Council Member Jenny Mundell, with 4,634 votes, was returned for her second term. Second Ward Councilman Nicholas Joanow, at 5,597, continues his incumbency. Third Ward Councilwoman Sarah Cruz gets her full elected term with 4,639 votes.
GLEN RIDGE voters re-elected one incumbent and returned a former incumbent onto the Borough Council. David Lefkovits was returned to the council with 2,241 votes. The former councilman, in his last election, was narrowly defeated. Lefkovits is to succeed former Mayor Daniel Murphy, who declined re-election, Jan. 1. Deborah Mans received her second term with 2,231 votes. Both Mans and Lefkovits ran with Civic Conference Committee endorsement – and without balloted opposition.
MAPLEWOOD voters returned newly minted and long-standing Township Committee members for three-year terms. Victor De Luca, whose 20-year committee tenure included 12 years as mayor, was returned with 11,413 votes. Dean Dafis received his second term with 11,335 votes. Both Dafis and De Luca ran as Democrats. The Maplewood Republican Party Organization did not field a candidate.
WEST ORANGE voters’ top three nonpartisan Township Council picks kept an incumbent but replaced the other one. Councilwoman Michelle Casalino, at 8,226, was the top vote-getter from among the seven balloted runners. Tammy Williams, at 7,759, took the second TC seat. H William “Bill” Rutherford, at 7,539, received the third and last seat. Monica Perkowski, at 7,490, placed fourth. Councilman Jerry Guarino’s re-election bid, at 5,842, left him fifth. Susan Scarpa placed sixth at 5,532. Brent Scott completed the field at 4,153.
BOARDS OF EDUCATION
ORANGE voters have apparently split two of three tickets on their way to returning one incumbent and empaneling two newcomers. First-time runner Fatimah Turner – of either the “Good to Great,” or “OBOE Democratic Team” platforms – topped the nine candidate rankings. Turner, a social worker-turned Orange Housing Authority commissioner, drew 2,156 votes.
Samantha Crockett, of the “Passion, Purpose Planning,” is ranked second. The first-timer drew 1,712 votes. Voters meanwhile returned current OBOE President Tyrone J. Tarver to the board. Tarver, who co-founded the movement to change the OBOE from a mayor-appointed board to a voter-elected panel, received 1,755 votes.
Tarver, who ran a solo campaign, is the only returning incumbent. Board member Jeff Wingfield, on the ODT ticket, received 1,520 votes for fourth place. Sharon Forde, of “Our Kids Matter,” finished fifth at 1,352. Lenore Young, of PPP, amassed 1,309 votes.
Former OBOE President and ODT runner Ernest Lydell Carter’s second straight return bid tallied 1,216 votes. OKM teammate Marsha Escallaire mustered 794. Solo runner Charles H. Pryor II completed the balloted field at 521.
WEST ORANGE voters helped a first-time runner Melinda C. Huerta upset West Orange Board of Education President Ken Alper. Huerta amassed 8,722 votes to Alper’s 8,120. There was only one seat open this year on the five-member board.
SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT voters split two tickets to seat three full-term board members while coronating the only runner for an unexpired term.
A majority of SOMA voters selected Susan Lewis Bergin, Courtney Winkfield and Ellen Malespina to the three three-year seats. South Orange villager Bergin and Maplewoodian Winkfield, of their own “Collaborate, Belong, Thrive” team, tallied 10,375 and 10,192 votes.
Malespina, of South Orange and “Choice For Change,” attained the third seat with 7,718. Deborah Engel, of Maplewood, finished fourth at 7,709 – nine markers short. Melanie “Parent For Change” Finnern, of Maplewood, completed the balloted field at 5,406.
Voters ratified appointee Kamal Zubieta’s bid to complete the last two years of Anthony Mazziocchi’s term. Zubieta, of Maplewood, who was appointed in January, tallied 10,983 votes.
BELLEVILLE voters’ two Board of Education Trustees choices included an incumbent who has garnered some unwanted attention in the preceding week.
“Moving Forward Together” leader Frank Velez III, at 3,072, is Nov. 3’s top vote-getter among six candidates. Voters returned Trustee and “Building Belleville’s Future” team leader Erika V. Jacho with 2,799 votes. Jacho, who was seeking her second term, had been charged by township police Oct. 20 with DWI and refusing an alcohol test.
Lissa “Excellence in Education” Missaggia is ranked third at 2,435 and “BBF” running mate Fernando A. Acevedo, Jr. fourth at 2,415. “Integrity in Education” incumbent Michael Sheldon placed fifth at 2,179. MFT running mate Yael Cavero-Isakowitz, at 662, completed the field.
BLOOMFIELD voters retained one “Certified, Empowered Leadership” incumbent but replaced two others from among six candidates. Board member Jessica Salinas, at 6,771, was the top vote-getter. First-time runner Nadeshia Greene, of “Vote For Equity,” took the second seat with 6,025 votes. VFE colleague Kasey Dudley took the last seat with 5,855. Incumbents and CEL teammates Ellen Rogers and Thomas Heaney found themselves in fourth and fifth place at 5,704 and 5,254. Satenik Margaryan, of VFE, rounded out the field at 4,621.
GLEN RIDGE voters picked three members-elect from four candidates. Tracey St. Auburn, the sole incumbent running, tallied 2,250 for her successful re-election. Rookie runners Jocelyn Gottlieb and Duval Graham took the other two seats at 2,250 and 2,221. Larry Rudman, who ran independently and without Civic Conference Committee endorsement, completed the field at 1,419.
NUTLEY voters filled its three school board seats with two incumbents and a newcomer. Board member Salvatore Ferraro was returned with 7,704 votes. Current BOE Vice President Lisa Danchak-Martin was also re-elected at 7,653. Former board member Salvatore Balsamo, at 7,438, was brought back to the last seat.
