Garden State Equality Action Fund, the political arm of New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ grassroots organization, endorsed 63 candidates for county and municipal office in partisan and non-partisan contests on November 5.
Included on the endorsement list are candidates in competitive local races in Mount Holly, Toms River Trenton, and Westwood.
“Alongside the federal endorsements released earlier this month, this is Garden State Equality’s largest endorsement slate to date,” said Lauren Albrecht, the group’s director of advocacy and organizing. “Increasingly, we have come to understand the importance of supporting pro-equality candidates at all levels of government; public servants who demonstrate a commitment to creating change on the most cellular level are often the most critical agents of change for the LGBTQ+ community.”
In countywide elections, Garden State Equality is backing incumbent County Commissioners Tracy Zur and Steve Tanelli in Bergen, Felicia Hopson in Burlington, Terrance Stokes, Samuel Frisby and Kristin McLaughlin in Mercer, Ron Rios and Shanti Narra in Middlesex, Sara Sooy and Shanel Robinson in Somerset and Kim Mouded, Alex Mirabella and James E. Baker, Jr. in Union. Tyler Burrell was endorsed for an open county commissioner seat in Burlington; the group is backing Danielle Mastropiero for county commissioner in Monmouth and Justi Strickland, Bud Ravitz, and Jonathan Sackett in Morris, and Jason Boehm in Sussex. Garden State Equality has also endorsed Amir Jones for Essex County Sheriff.
All of the endorsed candidates are Democrats.
“With so much at stake this Presidential election cycle, it’s essential to remember the power of local politics,” said Garden State Equality Action Fund Chair Jeannine Frisby LaRue. “From board of education members to county commissioners, these leaders shape the policies that directly impact our daily lives. Our endorsed candidates are committed to equality and justice, ensuring LGBTQ+ voices are heard and protected at every level. Their dedication to advancing the rights of all people is exactly what we need in this critical moment.
In Asbury Park, Garden State Equality is backing Eileen Chapman, Yvonne Clayton and Amy Quinn for city council.
“While the opposing slate is composed of all LGBTQ+ individuals, which is valuable for representation, the current slate of incumbents has demonstrated a strong, proven commitment to LGBTQ+ issues,” Garden State Equality said. “The scoring in our policy favors incumbents with a track record of advancing equality, despite the challenging slate answering the questions satisfactory.”
Also on the endorsement list: Kristian Rasmussen and Lisa Bontemps for Westwood Borough Council; Jennifer Harris, Leila Amirhamzeh and Eugina Gilmore for Hackensack Board of Education; Jason Fajgier, Casey Carty and Bjana Swinson for Mount Holly Council; Eric Holliday for Bordentown Council; Susan Mammarella, James Barry and Christopher Keating for Moorestown Council; Samantha Loveman for Hainesport Council; Monica Charris Tabares for Bloomfield Council-at-Large; Jenny Mundell for Bloomfield Mayor; Tammy Williams for West Orange Council; Arun Vadlamani, Bethany Joseph and Qawi Telesford for South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education; Nicholas Scotti for Nutley Board of Education; Jo Miller for Woodbury Council, 1st Ward; Jennifer Williams for Trenton City Council, North Ward; Teska Frisby for Trenton City Council, West Ward; Mark Freda for Princeton Mayor; Ari Meisel and Chris Santarpio for Princeton Board of Education; Jose Pujols and Brian Dougherty for Atlantic Highlands Council; Michael ‘Mike’ Morris for Middletown Council; Kimberly Karalovich for Neptune City Council; Nikki Darling for Allentown Council; Derel Stroud for Neptune Township Committee; Ben Weisman for Boonton Council; Janice Bakera for Jefferson Township Council; Zachary Dougherty for Toms River Council, 2nd Ward; Frank ‘Skip’ Stabile and Aimee Corzo for North Plainfield Council; Danni Newbury for Rahway City Council, 5th Ward; Leslie Rippon for Rahway Board of Education; and Christopher Bauknight for Washington Borough Council.
T.C. McCourt, an openly gay perennial candidate running for school board in Dover, did not win an endorsement.
Garden State Equality has already announced its federal campaign endorsements, including Democrat Andy Kim for the U.S. Senate.