Pla withdraws from Assembly race in 35th district

Elizabeth Pla dropped her bid for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 35th district after the number of valid signatures on her nominating petitions fell below 100.

This leaves Republicans Robert Cartalemi and Tamer Mamkej unopposed in the Republican primary.  Both are running off the line on a slate with Elmwood Park mayoral candidate Magdalena (Maggie) Giandomenico.  That leaves the organization candidate for mayor, Robert Colletti, without Assembly candidates at the top of his ticket.

Pla decided to withdraw before forcing state administrative law judge JoAnn LaSala Candido to rule on removing her from the ballot.

The 35th is heavily Democratic —  Republicans last won the seat in 1993 – and incumbents Benjie Wimberley (D-Paterson) and Shavonda Sumter (D-Paterson) are considered shoot-ins in the general election.