For the June 2nd Democratic Primary
For Essex County Commissioner (At-Large)
Essex County is made up of more than 850,000 people and has a budget over $900 million. Democrats win these at-large general elections by a three-to-one margin, so any real competition would need to be in a Democratic primary. In the past, when incumbents have retired or moved up to another office, the machine has made its endorsement and the “county line” carried the day.
In this first election for county commission since the mandate of fair ballots, a majority of commissioners chose not to seek re-election. The machine has its picks to replace them, but we should be sure to elect at least one who will answer only to her conscience and the voters:
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For Bloomfield Council
Bloomfield badly needs change. If you don’t know what’s happening, find out fast. Three reform-minded candidates are challenging the machine in ward races for council:
Ward 1: Stefanie Santiago
Ward 2: Greg Babula
Ward 3: Stef Bootwala
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For Maplewood Township Committee
It's time for new ideas and fresh perspectives so that Maplewood can adapt and evolve while remaining a safe, progressive community to live in and raise a family. Your reform-oriented candidate is:
For District Leader
The core of Essex Reform Democrats is our growing caucus of District Leaders in the county committee who are pushing for more democracy in the Democratic Party. Here are the candidates running on a variety of ballot slogans across Essex County who we support:
Bloomfield
1st Ward, 4th District: Sam D'Yan
1st Ward, 4th District: Susan Hebert
1st Ward, 8th District: Kevin Hoo (incumbent)
1st Ward, 8th District: Herb Gonzalez (incumbent)
1st Ward, 9th District: Joan Hussey (incumbent)
1st Ward, 9th District: Christopher Quintano
1st Ward, 10th District: Christine Hubbard
2nd Ward, 3rd District: Joshua Trojak
2nd Ward, 5th District: Norman Nicolai
2nd Ward, 5th District: Karen Banda
2nd Ward, 6th District: Jane Califf
2nd Ward, 6th District: Ted Glick
2nd Ward, 7th District: Greg Babula
2nd Ward, 7th District: Matthew Meisel
2nd Ward, 8th District: Shawn Ingle
2nd Ward, 12th District: Rodney P. Cauthen (incumbent)
3rd Ward, 1st District: Kevin Lindahl (incumbent)
3rd Ward, 2nd District: Satenik Margaryan (incumbent)
3rd Ward, 2nd District: Tracy Toler-Phillips (incumbent)
3rd Ward, 7th District: Jennifer Gamble (incumbent)
3rd Ward, 7th District: Ted Gamble
3rd Ward, 12th District: Norm Sutaria (incumbent)
3rd Ward, 12th District: Joy Willis
Glen Ridge
3rd District: Joseph Shure (incumbent)
7th District: Analilia Mejia (incumbent)
8th District: Lavanya Raghavan
Livingston
3rd District: Laurie Beacham (incumbent)
Maplewood
2nd District: Christine Houseworth
7th District: Dean Dafis (incumbent)
7th District: Melissa Renny
8th District: Matthew Bloom
8th District: Shannon Bond
15th District: Allison Posner (incumbent)
15th District: Lawrence Lipkin
17th District: Bob Dreyfuss (incumbent)
17th District: Jennifer Chuang (incumbent)
20th District: Kasia Piekarz
20th District: Ronni Schwartz (incumbent)
Millburn
5th District: David Boyko (incumbent)
16th District: Trina Frankel (incumbent)
Newark, West Ward
39th District: John Smith (incumbent)
Nutley
1st Ward, 1st District: Emely Chavez
1st Ward, 1st District: Laura Valente (incumbent)
1st Ward, 4th District: Michael Evangelista (incumbent)
2nd Ward, 1st District: Judith White
2nd Ward, 2nd District: Andrea Podgarsky (incumbent)
2nd Ward, 2nd District: Virginia Hart
2nd Ward, 4th District: Emma Cortese
2nd Ward, 4th District: Lauren Melnick
3rd Ward, 3rd District: Jonathan Vanderhoof
3rd Ward, 4th District: Matthew Wittman
South Orange
1st District: Rebecca Morrison (incumbent)
2nd District: Anita Gundanna (incumbent)
2nd District: Katherine Greenstone (incumbent)
3rd District: Kimberley Collins (incumbent)
6th District: Deborah Alessandro (incumbent)
7th District: Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad (incumbent)
8th District: Kate Slevin (incumbent)
8th District: Joe Rospars (incumbent)
9th District: Erika Malinoski (incumbent)
9th District: Allecyn Ries (incumbent)
10th District: Holly W. Gauthier (incumbent)
10th District: David L. Harris
12th District: William E. Graves (incumbent)
13th District: Ritu Pancholy (incumbent)
13th District: Laura Levine (incumbent)
The petition deadline for getting on the ballot as District Leader candidate was March 23rd. If you want to mount a write-in campaign, or if you’re a candidate who wants to be considered for endorsement, please join us today!