A Democratic assembly candidate about to get tossed

Nadirah Brown will likely be tossed from the Democratic primary for State Assembly in the 28th district after falling short of the 250 signatures needed to get on the ballot.

Administrative Law Judge Joanne Candido invalidated 40 signatures of the 250 submitted by Brown by the March 24 filing deadline.

The Essex County Democratic Committee filed the challenge after Brown filed just 255 signatures.  Their attorney, Raj Parikh, found enough signatures of Republicans and Green Party candidates and people who reside outside the 28th district to end Brown’s candidacy.

Candido ended the challenge before Parikh could get to a section of signatories that were not registered voters.  In total, Parikh filed a challenge to 140 of Brown’s 255 signatures.  Candido disagreed with just six of Parikh’s challenges, while withholding a decision on twelve more.

Brown, a community service employee at the Essex County Division of Family Assistance and one-time Newark school board candidate, sought to challenge the new state law that raised the minimum petition requirement from 100 to 250.  She turned down a chance to end her candidacy without having to go name by name after falling dozens below the threshold.

“Nadirah Brown will never withdraw,” Brown said.

That leaves two incumbents, Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) and Garnet Hall (D-Maplewood), and Newark West Ward Democratic Chairman Chigozie Onyema, in the race.