Tasic wins Passaic Democratic nomination for county commissioner

Haledon Councilwoman Aleksandra Tasic won the Democratic nomination for Passaic County commissioner tonight, securing a place on the general election ballot for the unexpired term of former Commissioner John Bartlett.

Tasic, an attorney, had emerged as the overwhelming favorite after winning the support of Passaic County Democratic municipal leaders during a screening committee meeting.  Members of the full Democratic county committee formally selected her at a special convention Wednesday night without opposition.

She will face Republican Marko Kopec in the November general election for the remaining 13 months of Bartlett’s term.

Bartlett resigned last month to become general counsel of the Gateway Development Corporation, creating an unusual sequence of appointments and elections for the all-Democratic county governing body.

Late last month, Democratic county committee members selected Nick Veliky to fill Bartlett’s seat temporarily.  Veliky won the June 2 Democratic primary for a separate county commissioner seat and is running in November for the remaining two years of the term now held by Commissioner Bruce James, who declined to seek re-election.

Under state law, the winner of the special election for Bartlett’s unexpired term will take office after the November election results are certified.  That means Veliky will leave the board in November and, if he wins his own race, return in January to begin the term for which he was nominated in June.

Tasic defeated three other candidates for the Democratic nomination: Derya Taskin, a former Paterson deputy mayor who ran against the county organization on a 2024 slate headed by Jerry Speziale; Cory McKinney, a former Wayne council candidate; and Dania Martinez, a former Paterson school board member.

Former Deputy County Administrator Mark Seemon and Little Falls Councilwoman Christine Hablitz had also been mentioned as possible candidates but did not apply before the filing deadline.

Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie congratulated Tasic and praised the field that competed for the nomination.

“Tonight, our County Committee selected an outstanding young talent that has already demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and a deep commitment to her community,” Currie said. “Alek Tasic has the experience, judgment, and work ethic to serve the residents of Passaic County well, and I congratulate her on earning the confidence of our County Committee.”

Currie also thanked Taskin, McKinney and Martinez for seeking the seat.

“Our party is stronger because of their willingness to become involved, and I hope each of them will continue to play an active role in our Democratic organization,” he said.

Tasic thanked county committee members for their confidence and said she was ready to begin campaigning for the November election.

She will join a Democratic countywide slate that includes Surrogate Zoila Cassanova, Veliky and incumbent Commissioner Orlando Cruz.

Veliky and Cruz will face Wanaque Councilman Ed Leonard and Republican Carlos Rodriguez, a former law enforcement official and longtime New Jersey Transit locomotive engineer. Leonard replaced Daniel Sagan, who won the Republican primary but later withdrew from the race.

“Our process brought forward several outstanding candidates, and tonight our Democratic organization came together behind Alek,” Currie said. “Now our focus turns to November.”

Democrats currently hold all seven seats on the Passaic County Board of County Commissioners.

Republicans won three commissioner seats in 2009 but lost them in 2012.  The GOP regained one seat in 2021 before losing it three years later, restoring the Democrats’ 7-0 majority.