Voters in 83 municipalities will pick candidates for municipal office in today’s primary election; on the Democratic side, it is the first office block ballot in most counties.
U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi’s decision to eliminate Democratic county organization lines came after the March 26 filing deadline. It’s possible that the number of municipal primaries would have increased this year had potential candidates known the line would be abolished.
Here are 20 of the primaries the New Jersey Globe will be watching closely.
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Pleasantville: Mayor Judy Ward faces a Democratic primary challenge from Julio Sanchez, Jr. and Tony Davenport. Three council seats also have challenges.
BERGEN COUNTY
Old Tappan: In a small town primary that could impact the 2025 GOP Assembly primary, incumbents Guy Carnazza and Jin Yhu are seeking an off-the-line primary win against challenges from school board member Juan Marti and Robert Zaccone. Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) is backing Marti and Zaccone; State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) is supporting the incumbents.
Palisades Park: Councilwoman Stephanie Jang, who was nearly elected mayor two years ago before a judge allegedly interfered with the election, is running off the line in a bid for a second term. In a municipality where are majority of voters are Korean American, the local Republican organization is backing George Hadoulis and James Donovan; Jang is running with Neris Papoters. Democrats have a primary too, with four candidates seeking two seats, including incumbent Sang Lee.
Tenafly: Incumbents Julie O’Connor and Venugopal Menon are seeking re-election to the borough council; so is former Councilwoman Lauren Dayton, who is trying to restart her political career after losing an off-the-line Assembly race in 2021 and then a council primary last year after losing party support.
Wyckoff: Incumbent Timothy Shanley is seeking re-election to township committee seat on the GOP line with Drita McNamara, the District 40 Republican chair; they face incumbent Thomas Madigan and his running mate, Mae Bogdansky.
BURLINGTON COUNTY
Lumberton: In a small town whose local politics exudes toxicity, incumbents Kendra Hatfield and Robert Rodriguez face two challenges running with party support, Amanda Smith and Larry Larned, in the Democratic primary for township committee.
CAPE MAY
Upper Township: Two Republican incumbents, Jay Newman and Kimberly Hayes, find themselves off the line against challengers Zachary Palombo and Samuel Palombo.
ESSEX COUNTY
Bloomfield: Mayor Ted Gamble faces Councilwoman Jenny Mundell in the Democratic primary. Gamble was appointed mayor in January after Michael Venezia left to become an assemblyman; Mundell was the top choice of the county committee, but the governing body went with Gamble. With no line, Mundell is in the race with the Essex Democratic slogan and the support of most of the party establishment, including Rep. Mikie Sherrill. There’s also a two-way race for the unexpired council term of Gamble, who gave up his seat to become interim mayor.
Maplewood: In a Democratic primary for two township committee seats, Mayor Nancy Adams and Deputy Mayor Jamaine Cripe are seeking re-election against Malia Herman, a former Associated Press and Gannett reporter. Adams and Cripe have the organization slogan; Herman was endorsed by former Mayor Frank McGehee.
HUDSON
Kearny: Interim Councilman Renato da Silva, who was appointed in December after Carol Ann Doyle was elected mayor, faces a Democratic primary challenge from Fred Esteves, the brother-in-law of former Mayor (now Superior Court Judge) Alberto Santos. Doyle had backed Esteves for appointment to her seat last year.
HUNTERDON
Readington: Incumbents Juergen Huelsebusch and Adam Mueller, who are part of a conservative block on the township committee, face former Mayor Benjamin Smith and Planning Board member Jacqueline Hindle, who are part of the Republican old guard. The race is a nasty one that includes criminal charges filed against a local official one of the factions attached an electronic tracking device to lawn signs.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Perth Amboy: Mayor Helmin Caba is seeking re-election in the Democratic primary against attorney Joe Vas, the son of a former mayor, and Kenneth Gonzalez, a former municipal court judge. Caba has the endorsement of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization. Two at-large council seats are also up. This is the first election since Perth Amboy voters approved a change from non-partisan to partisan elections that eliminates runoffs.
Piscataway: Mayor Brian Wahler faces Staci Berger, the president of the Housing and Community Development Network, in the Democratic primary. Berger has lost two council primaries but is buoyed by the elimination of organization lines. Wahler has been mayor for 24 years. Three incumbent council members are also facing primary fights.
South Amboy: Councilman Brian McLaughlin, who has a history of posting misogynistic, race-baiting, foul-mouthed, and off-color memes on his Facebook page, lost party support for his re-election bid. He faces Larry Lenahan. In 2022, McLaughlin challenged Mayor Fred Henry in the Democratic primary and was soundly rejected.
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Howell: With Democratic Mayor Theresa Berger not seeking re-election, three Republicans are seeking the Republican nomination to succeed her: Deputy Mayor Ian Nadel, who has the Monmouth GOP line; Fred Gasior, a doltish councilman; and Planning Board member John Leggio. Matthew Filosa is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Donald Trump won Howell by seventeen percentage points in 2020.
Neptune Township: Two Democrats appointed to township committee seats since the last election are on different slates, Derel Stroud and Kevin McMillan; both slates have the slogan of the Monmouth Democratic organization. Stroud is running with Jason Jones and McMillan with Brian Acciani.
MORRIS COUNTY
Jefferson: Longtime Councilman H. Ronald Smith is off the line in a re-election bid for one of three seats in the GOP primary. Also in the race and on what might be the last line primary: incumbent Robert Birmingham, Barnie Garruto, and Daniel Schultz.
OCEAN COUNTY
Plumsted: Incumbents Dominick Cuozzo and Michael Hammerstone face James Hagelstone and Thomas Potter in the Republican primary for two township committee seats Cuozzo is a controversial local pastor who lost a State Assembly special election convention in 2022 after Ronald Dancer (R-Plumsted) died in office.
Toms River: In a race for the unexpired Ward 2 council seat of Dan Rodrick, who was elected mayor last year, interim incumbent William Byrne. Running off the line is former Councilman Kevin Geohegan.
UNION COUNTY
Roselle: There are contested Democratic primaries for two ward council seats in Roselle, where the local party has been sharply divided into constantly changing factions in recent years. Incumbent Brandon Bernier faces Lisa Palin in Ward 2, and Rosetta McCamery and Darryl Barnes are facing off in Ward 5.