BY WALTER ELLIOTT
NEWARK – Registered Essex County Democratic and Republican party voters got to see both changes and sameness when they received their June 4 primary election ballot.
The Essex County Democratic Committee (ECDC) faithful got to see their first ballots in the block ballot design. This was the result of a federal judge’s March 29 ruling that eliminated the traditional party line ballot format for at least this election.
The judge had ruled that the party line format, in use in New Jersey for practically forever, gave prominence to the heavily endorsed party candidates. This was the claim made by current U.S. House of Representative Andrew “Andy” Kim (D-Bordentown) and labor activist Dr. Patricia Campos Medina (D-Califon) over the winter.
Members of the Essex County Republican Party Organization (ECRPO) may be looking for their counterparts’ shoulders or viewing sample ballots posted on essxclerk.com. While the Democratic Party primary ballot block ballot is only for the June 6 election, a ruling from the same U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals is pending from the same judge’s Philadelphia bench later this year may expand and make permanent the block ballot format.
Some countywide and maybe statewide ballot receivers, however, may be asking themselves, “What was all the court fuss about? Most of the same establishment candidates are on top of their ballot blocks here.”
Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin (D-Roseland) had held blind his blind ballot place drawing like he and his 21 other county colleagues have had. The procedure is similar to picking numbers from a drum at a bingo game.
An observer rated the block ballot place drawing to match the previous party line drawing as at 4.3 percent – a very rare occurrence.
No one is questioning the integrity of longtime clerk Durkin’s drawing procedure. There are some “good government” groups who want to go to a computerized drawing system.
Many of the familiar names, indeed, are found on the Democratic and Republican ballots – but not all.
Democratic voters in the 10th Congressional District will be giving Donald M. Payne, Jr. a posthumous victory lap June 4.
Payne, 65, of Newark, was running for what would have been his eighth two-year term before he died April 24. The younger Payne’s death, three weeks after being admitted with a complicated cardiac condition, came too late to change the ballot.
June 4 party voters – and likely Nov. 5 General Election voters – will be electing Payne’s successor to Capitol Hill for a full two-year term. Some of those candidates’ names, however, may be partially determined by a pair of special elections on July 17 and Sept. 18.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D-Rumson) called for the special July 17 primary and Sept. 18 General Election so that someone would be in Payne’s House of Representatives seat to finish his current term through Jan. 6.
The July 17 primary and Sept. 18 elections are being handled elsewhere and separately in “Local Talk.”
Herewith are the major party candidates – from President of the United States to township mayor, council or committee – in the “Local Talk” area. All three CDs overlap into parts of neighboring counties and or “West Essex” towns. The candidates’ names are in order of ballot appearance.
The June 6 primary is a chance for party voters to decide on whether to stay or change their political course. Some primaries, given party strength is some municipalities, are tantamount to a Nov. 5 General Election result.
PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES
Democratic incumbent Joseph R. Biden Jr., of Delaware, is being challenged by “Democrats for Life” runner Terrisa Bukovinac, of Arlington, Va. There is also “Uncommitted” for those who object to certain of the Biden Administration’s policies.
Former President Donald J. Trump, of Florida, is running unopposed for New Jersey’s Republican nod.
U.S. CONGRESS
SENATOR
Incumbent Cong. Andy Kim, of Bordentown is looking to succeed the incumbent Bob Menendez, Sr. and, in the last month, received Essex County Democratic Committee endorsement.
People’s Organization for Progress President Lawrence “Larry” Hamm, of Montclair, intents to put “Peoples’ Needs First” Patricia Campos-Medina is running under the “Pro-Democracy Democrats” flag.
Kim, Hamm and Campos-Medina have debated with each other. Menendez said he will run an independent re-election campaign, pending the outcome of his current federal bribery and corruption trial.
Cape May entrepreneur Curtis Bashaw is running with Regular Republican Party support. Albert Harshaw, of Browns Mills, says he is “For the People.”
Christine Serrano Glassner, of Mendham, is among a slate fielded by “America First Republicans.” Justin Murphy, of Tabernacle, bills himself as an “American Conservative Republican.”
HOUSE
EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Including Newark’s East and North Wards
Kyle Fort Jasey, of Jersey City, is first on this ballot. The former South Orange ward district leader is hawking “A Fresh Start for New Jersey.”
Ravinder “Ravi” S. Bhalla, Hoboken is running as a “Pro-Democracy Democrat.”
ECDC is meanwhile backing Rob Menendez, of Jersey City. The younger incumbent Menendez is seeking re-election for a second term.
Anthony Valdes, of West New York, has ECRPO support.
10TH CD: Including Irvington, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Montclair’s Fourth Ward, Newark’s Central, South and West Wards.
The late ECDC incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne, Jr. Newark is running unopposed. The ECRPO is backing Carmen Bucco, of Nutley.
11TH CD Including South Orange, Maplewood, Glen Ridge, Belleville, Nutley, Rest of Montclair
ECDC incumbent Mikie Sherrill, of Montclair, is being challenged by Totowa’s Mark De Lotto and his “New Leadership, Better Ideas, Meaningful Change” platform. Joseph Belnome, of Belleville, has ECRPO endorsement.
Challenging are John F. Sauers, Rockaway, “Common Man for Common Solutions” and Dr. Raafat Barsoom, of Belleville, “Time for Change/You Choose.”
ESSEX COUNTY
Sheriff
Incumbent Armando Fontoura is not running for reelection. Current Essex County Sheriff’s Office member Amir Jones, of East Orange, has ECDC endorsement. Challenging is retired sheriff’s officer Gary Nash, Bloomfield, under “Democrats United for Change and Integrity.”
Republicans are to choose between ECRPO’s Nicholas Pasini, of Montclair Robert Bianco, Montclair, of “America First Republicans.”
Registrar
ECDC supported Juan M. Rivera, Jr., of Newark. is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Republicans are to choose between ECRPO’s Nutley Sgt. Jeffrey M. Polewka, and Scott D. Pollack, Montclair, of “America First Republicans.”
MUNICIPAL RACES
BLOOMFIELD Democrats are to choose between “Democrats United for Change and Integrity” incumbent Ted Gamble and ECDC’s outgoing Councilwoman Jenny Mundell, for mayor.
The At Large Council Unexpired Term being sought for by ECDC’s Monica Charris-Tabares, and Gamble “Democrats United for Change and Integrity” running mate Rodney P. Cauthen.
Bloomfield’s Republican committee did not field any candidates.
MAPLEWOOD Township Committee (Pick Two)
Sitting Mayor Nancy J. Adams and newcomer Jermaine L. Cripe are running with Democratic Committee support. Challenging is Malia Herman, “Democrat for Maplewood.”
Unexpired Two-Year Term (Pick One.)
Sean P. Ruffin is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The Maplewood Republican Committee fielded no candidates.
Although voting machine polling stations will be open 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. June 4, those who have received Vote By Mail Ballots may take them now to a USPS mailbox or deposit in a designated county drop box. The important thing is that BVMBs get postmarked or dropped off before 8 p.m. June 4.
Check essexclerk.com for polling station locations, any early hours and other details and questions.
