Mercer County Democrats voted to force two incumbent county commissioners into a six-way race for three seats rather than automatically approve their renomination, possibly putting Commissioner Ann Cannon in danger of losing part support for re-election to the seat she’s held for nearly 27-years.
The contest came after an extended debate.
The move could put nine-term Commissioner Ann Cannon in danger of losing party support for the seat she’s held for 27 years.
“Mercer Democrats have long proudly claimed to be the most open and inclusive county Democratic organization in the state,” said Jeff Laurenti, a longtime Trenton Democratic leader and reformer. “Our long-established Rules require a secret ballot for all offices. They make no mention of “incumbents.” They make no provision for fencing off incumbents from having to compete on an equal basis with challengers.”
Six candidates had initially sought the open seat of Commissioner Pat Colavita, Jr., who is not seeking re-election after serving 18 years in county office, but the race is now down to four: Hopewell Township Committeewoman and former mayor Kristin McLaughlin; Lawrence Councilman Michael Powers, a former mayor; Terrence Stokes, a Ewing football official and student discipline officer for the Trenton public schools; and Yan Mei Wang, a former college professor and West Windsor council candidate.
Two others — Lance Lopez, the former president of the state Corrections Officers PBA Local 105 and Assistant Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Tennille McCoy of Hamilton – have withdrawn from the race.
Another incumbent commissioner, Samuel Frisby, is also seeking re-election and is not expected to face any difficulties. Democrats are not likely to drop the only Black countywide official from their ticket.
Laurenti said that “lumping ‘incumbent’ candidates with those candidates running for uncontested offices, and whooping them through in a voice vote of so-called ‘acclamation’ – another term that is not recognized in our Rules and By-Laws.”
“Incumbents have many advantages already. They don’t need to be protected from accountability,” Laurenti said. “Yes, it means you’ll have to hear a brief nominating speech for the handful of incumbents and their own self-justifications. But that’s what democracy is all about.”
At a vote of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization earlier this month, Frisby was the top vote-getter, followed by Kristin McLaughlin and Terrence Stokes. Cannon finished last.
Cathleen Lewis, a Lawrence councilwoman who is running the election, announced that Princeton Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros has dropped out of the race for State Assembly in the 16th district. Her hometown voted to endorse Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough) and former Montgomery Mayor Sadaf Jaffer.
Commissioner seats don’t open up often.
Ann Cannon was first elected in 1994, Lucylle Walter in 1997, John Cimino in 2008, Andrew Koontz in 2010, Samuel Frisby in 2011, and Nina Melker in 2018.
For the 76-year-old Colavita, his retirement ends a career that began with his election to the Lawrence Board of Education in 1984. He served as mayor of Lawrence before winning a freeholder seat in 2003. He took over for Brian Hughes, who was elected County Executive that year.
“Mercer was the first county to engage with the Good Government Coalition in finding ways to bring better ballots and a stronger democracy to New Jersey. Their commitment to fair elections was clear tonight when they voted, for the first time in decades, to consider all candidates equally, regardless of incumbency status,” said Yael Niv, President of the Good Government Coalition of New Jersey. “We are looking forward to other counties following Mercer’s lead and allowing voters, not party bosses, to pick who represents them in government.”