50 municipal primaries we’re watching on Tuesday

Here’s a list of 50 municipalities with contested primary elections the New Jersey Globe will be watching when the polls close on Tuesday evening:

Bernards: Kirsten Light, a former school board member, is challenging organization-backed candidates Paul Humbert, a 74-year-old attorney, and Vanathi Raghupathy in a three-way race for two township committee seats.  The winners will face two Democrats: Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy and former Committeewoman Joan Bannan; Democrat John Tompkins is not seeking re-election.

Chatham Borough: David Andreasen is challenging the local Democratic-backed slate of Sophia Hull and Nicholas Eck in a three-way race for two council seats. The two incumbents, Brian Hargrove and Justin Strickland, are not seeking re-election.  Strickland is challenging Rep. Analilia Mejia in the Democratic primary for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th district; it’s his second House primary this year.

Colts Neck: Robert Farrell and Thomas Sullivan, running under the Colts Neck First banner, face Kevin Walsh in a contest for two township committee seats in the GOP primary.  Incumbents Tara Torchia Buss and Michael Viola are not seeking re-election.

Cranford: Three Democrats are seeking two seats on the township committee, including incumbent Paul Gallo.  Gallo and Susan Burke are running with the organization’s backing against Will Thilly; Thilly ran as an independent last year and got some notice for breakdancing during a township committee meeting.  Brian Andrews, a former mayor, is not seeking re-election.

Bergenfield: Three candidates are seeking two borough council seats in the Democratic primary; incumbents Marc Pascual and  Domingo Almonte are seeking re-election on a party-backed slate; they face Nelson Reynoso.

Bloomfield: Races for three ward council seats have put Gov. Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and Mayor Jenny Mundell on one side, and U.S. Senator Andy Kim, Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge), and State Sen. Britnee Timberlake on the other.  The organization slate — incumbents Rosalee Gonzalez (1st Ward), Essex County Youth Services Director Jason Martinez (2nd Ward), and incumbent Sarah Cruz (3rd Ward) — face progressive challengers: Stefanie Santiago (1st Ward), Greg Babula (2nd Ward), and Stef Bootwala (3rd Ward).  Paul Bonica is also running in the 2nd Ward.

Dover:  Four candidates endorsed by the Morris County Democratic organization face allies of Mayor James P. Dodd, whose faction of the Democratic party was expelled earlier this year for backing Republicans, including Jack Ciattarelli, in the general election.   Two of the candidates, five-term incumbent Sandra Witter in the First Ward, and Alice Pastoris in the Third Ward, are not seeking re-election.  In the Second Ward, Krista Seanor, a school board member, faces Carlos Noriega for the open seat of Geobani Estacio.  In the Fourth Ward, Elizabeth Tapia, who graduated from college last year, faces incumbent Marcos Tapia (the two are not related) and Austin Nieves.  Marcos Talia  is a Dodd ally.

Elizabeth:  One of the premier primary races is in the Democratic primary for city council in Elizabeth’s 5th Ward, where William Gallman, Jr., a six-term incumbent, faces José Rodriguez, the brother of freshman Assemblyman Ed Rodriguez (D-Elizabeth).  Gallman is an ally of Mayor Christian Bollwage.  In the 1st Ward, incumbent Carlos Torres faces Edwin Falcon;  school board member Rose Moreo-Ortega, Manuel Medina and Jerry Jacobs in the 2nd Ward — all three are running with the organization slogan – and Isaias Rivera; the incumbent, Nelson Gonzalez, is not running again.  Three other Bollwage allies, incumbents Kevin Kiniery (3rd Ward), Carlos Cedeno (4th Ward), and Frank Mazza (6th Ward), face no primary opposition.

Englewood: In the race for the Ward 2 city council seat, incumbent Lisa Witosky faces a Democratic primary challenge from Suzanne Mullings.

Ewing: The local Democratic organization is backing incumbent Sarah Steward and Carl Benedetti, Jr., a three-term school board member, for two township council seats.  The incumbent, Kathleen Wollert, is seeking re-election without party support in a primary with office block ballots.  Wollert initially served as a councilwoman in the 1990s and returned to office in 2013.

Franklin (Sussex County): Two party-endorsed candidates for Common Council, Joe Limon and Patricia Carnes, both incumbents, and James Affinito, are running in the Republican primary.

Hammonton: Four Republicans are competing for three council seats: incumbents Sam Rodio, Renee Rodio, and James Matro are facing Mickey Pullia.

Hampton: Veteran incumbents Phil Yetter and David Hansen face a GOP primary challenge from newcomer Robert Siejowski.

Hanover:  Republican Township Committeemen Brian Cahill and Michael Mihalko face a primary challenge from former Committeeman RObert Brueno.

Hardytston: Incumbents Frank Cicerale and Brian Kaminski face challenges from Robin Marrotta, a school board member, and John Sheldon in the Republican primary.

Holmdel: Five candidates are running for two township committee seats in the Republican primary: incumbent Joseph Romano; incumbent Gary Vanderham and TJ Mann as the Official Holmdel Republican Party candidates; and Ronald Emma and Kristina Celauro, who are running as the Holmdel First candidates.  Mann, a lobbyist, is the son of Monmouth County Administrator Teri O’Connor.

Hopatcong: Two Republican councilwomen, Rachel Rodriguez and Jennfer Johnson, face a primary fight with former Council President John Young and Allyson Logan, a business owner.

Jefferson: Mayor Eric Wilsusen faces a fierce Republican primary challenge from former two-term Assemblyman Christian Barranco.  There is a four-way primary for two council seats.

Kearny: Three incumbents and one newcomer are running on the independent Democratic “Team Kearny” slate, facing a competing ticket backed by Mayor Carol Jean Doyle and the Hudson County Democratic Organization.  Team Kearny slate includes Ward 1 Councilman George Zapata, Ward 2 Councilman Dennis Solano, Ward 3 candidate Sarah Bonilla, and Ward 4 Councilman Stathis Theodoropoulos.  The other candidates: Smily Whala and Zayda Balcazar in Ward 1; Julio Huancaya in Ward 2; Edmund Shea in Ward 3; and Orlando Miranda in Ward 4.

Lacey: Party-backed incumbent Peggy Sue Juliano faces a GOP primary fight with Regina Discenza, a former school board member.

Lakewood: The politically influential Vaad, which represents a local coalition of Orthodox Jewish leaders, is backing incumbent Deborah Fuentes and Moshe Raitzik, a fire commissioner and former school board member, in the Republican primary against Aaron Hirsch, an activist.  But that’s not necessarily a commitment of support for the general: typically, the Vaad backs Fuentes and Democrat Ray Coles, the longtime mayor.

Lawnside: With the retirement of Mary Ann Wardlow, three Democrats are running for mayor: Councilwoman Rhonda Wardlow-Hurley, a former Camden County Commissioner; Michael Harper; and Ervin Mears.  Wardlow-Hurley has the endorsement of the local party organization.  Five Democrats are seeking two borough council seats.

Liberty: Incumbents Wayne Spangenberg and Peter Karcher face a Republican primary challenge from Donald Lutz and Nancy O’Leary.

Lindenwold: In the Democratic primary, incumbents Linda Hess and Jermaine Jackson face Kathleen Fitzpatrick and Alfonso Penna.

Livingston: Six Democrats are seeking three seats in an open, lineless primary where five of them – three-term incumbent Edward Meinhardt, Deputy Mayor Ketan Bhuptani, Stacey Abenstein, Laurie Kahn, and Daphne Dan Wang, are running with the organization slogan; only Bill Lam is not.  The third incumbent, Mayor Shawn Klein, is giving up his council seat to run for county commissioner.

Lumberton: In the Democratic primary, embattled incumbent Gina LaPlaca faces a tough primary fight for one of two township committee seats.  Her onetime running mate, Mayor Terrance Benson, has teamed up with Kendra Hatfield, a former committeewoman.  LaPlaca pleaded guilty to child endangerment three months ago after a St. Patrick’s Day drunk driving arrest; her blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit, and she had her pre-school son in the car.  Last week, her husband, Jason Carty, a school board member, was charged with trying to strangle her.

Merchantville: The local Democratic organization is backing Sean Fitzgerald and Ruby Delarosa against progressives Kim Brady and Annie Miller.

Maplewood: Mayor Vic De Luca, first elected to the township committee in 1997, is seeking re-election; he and John T. Sullivan are running with the organization slogan.  Martin Ceperley is the Essex Reform Democrats candidate – that’s the same slogan as former Maplewood Deputy Mayor Deborah Engel, who is running for county commissioner.  A second incumbent, Dean Dafis, is not seeking re-election. Dafis briefly sought the Democratic nomination for Congress in the NJ-11 special primary in February.

Mendham Borough: Incumbent James Kelly faces a GOP primary challenge from Neil Henry, a former mayor.

Middletown:  Two township committee candidates backed by the local Republican organization, incumbent Ryan Clarke and newcomer Morganne Dudzinski, a former Monmouth University public affairs director, face a challenge from Mark Soporowski, a school board member.  Another incumbent, Kimberly Kratz, is not seeking re-election.

New Brunswick: Mayor James Cahill, who was first elected in 1990, faces a Democratic primary challenge from a longtime critic, Charlie Kratovil.  Cahill beat Kratovil with 77%-23% in the 2018 primary; Kratovil ran as an independent in 2022, and Cahill won 66%-23% in a three-candidate race.

Palisades Park: A Democratic mayoral primary between incumbent Chong Paul Kim and Suk “John” Min.  The winner will face former Councilwoman Stephanie Jung, who was on her way to winning election as mayor four years ago until a judge with multiple conflicts interfered in the election.

Piscataway: This race is, as Joe Biden might say, a big f-ing deal: the local Democratic organization, including State Sen. Robert Smith and Mayor Brian Wahler, is defending control of the township council against a progressive challenge from the “Democrats Putting Piscataway Working Families First” slate.  Two years ago, the progressives picked up two at-large council seats, dropping the organization numbers from 7-0 to 5-2; if they win two of the four races they’re contesting, control flips.  In Ward 1, incumbent Frank Uhrin faces Shantell Cherry, the school board president; incumbent Dennis Espinosa faces Betsy Aumack, who spent nine years as a Piscataway fire commissioner, in Ward 2; Ward 3 features a contest between incumbent Sharon Carmichael and Viola Stone, who came within about 400 votes of winning the at-large primary two years ago; and incumbent Michelle Lombardi is seeking re-election in Ward 4 against Rashaad Couloote, a former intern for the Legislative Black Caucus who helps neurodiverse college students.

Princeton: Incumbent David Cohen has party support for re-election.  For the open seat of Leticia Fraga, who is not running again, the party slogan went to Marina Rubina, an architect. . They face educator Leanna Jahnke and Jon Durbin, a former Democratic municipal chair and former president of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization.

Prospect Park: A Democratic primary for mayor between incumbent Mohammed Khairullah and Robert Artis, a councilman.  Khairullah ran against Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson) in the 2024 Democratic primary.

Quinton: Incumbent Marjorie Sperry faces two Republican primary challengers: Ralph Warfle and Larry Winkels.

Rahway: In the race for three at-large city council seats, incumbents Jeff Brooks, Joanna Miles and Jeremy Mojica have the support of the local Democratic organziation; they face Andrew Garcia Phillips, a longtime critic of the city’s governing body.

Raritan: There is a two-way race for the Democratic nomination for mayor between former Council President James Foohey and Adam Armanhizer, a U.S. Marine veteran who was 24 when he won a council seat in 2022.  The winner will take on GOP incumbent Donald Tozzi in a special election for Nicolas Carra’s 13-month unexpired term.

Readington: There’s a nasty fight for two township committee seats between Trevor Izzo and Eric Rhoades, who are backed by the party organization, and Lisa Routel and Jon Kowal.  Two incumbents, John Albanese and Jonathan Heller, are not running again.  Albanese admitted to stealing signs during the 2024 GOP primary as part of a plea deal to plead guilty to creating a public nuisance, helping to avoid a criminal conviction.

Rockleigh: In a small Bergen County borough with about 100 registered Republicans, there is a contested primary for mayor between incumbent James Pontone and newcomer Robert Ferretti.

Roselle: It wouldn’t be a Democratic primary without a vicious primary fight in Roselle.  1st Ward Councilwoman Isabel Souza faces Cynthia Atkins, the wife of Reginal Atkins, a former assemblyman and mayor.  In the 3rd Ward, Mario Cornejo Dominguez is facing Cecila Dallis-Ricks for a seat that has been vacant since January, when Cynthia Johnson won an at-large seat.

Roselle Park: Joseph Signorello, Jr. and Gregory Johnson are facing off for the Democratic nomination.  Signorello, a longtime councilman and school board member, became mayor in January after his son, Joseph Signorello III, was elected county commissioner.  Johnson is the First Ward councilman.

Rumson:  Incumbents Gary Casazza and Linda Smith have the backing of the local Republican organization in a contested borough council primary against Robert Eyekruss III.

Rutherford: Stephanie McGowan, a councilwoman since 2015, and Jarrod Schaeffer, a former federal prosecutor, are running for borough council with the local Democratic endorsement; they face Susan Quatrone, a former aide to Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson), who ran in 2022.  Matthew Cokely is not seeking re-election to the seat he first won in 2020.

South Harrison: Two candidates with their local party endorsement, Deputy Mayor Robert Diaz and Alex Sorbello, a planning and zoning board member, face Radine and Anna Konawel, the mother and sister, respectively, of Gloucester County Commissioner Chris Konawel, for two township committee seats.  Incumbent Robert Schenk is not seeking re-election.

Tenafly: Five Democrats are seeking two borough council seats: Two incumbents, Jamie Corsair and John Roglieri, are running under the Democrats of Tenafly banner; Carol Kutz and Annie Nelson have the organization endorsement; and Aakash Shan, whose slogan is Parent. Doctor. For Smart Transparent Growth.  Roglieri and Corsair were elected in 2023 when an incumbent on the ballot was arrested on child pornography charges six weeks after the deadline to withdraw.

Wall:  In the race for two township committee seats: incumbents, Mayor Erin Mangan and Deputy Mayor Daniel Becht, are running separately in the Republican primary; so is Jonathan Syby, a local first aid squad member and Johnson & Johnson executive.  Becht is well known in Hudson County as the former executive director of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority.

Walpack: No candidates have filed to run for one township committee seat in New Jersey’s smallest municipality, with a population of seven.  That’s not unusual, and the candidate can easily be nominated with one write-in vote.

Watchung: Former Councilwoman Daryl Eisenberg Knegten is seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor with party support against newcomer Timothy Carroll, who is running under the Arrest and Prosecute ICE Gestapo slogan.  Mayor Ronald Jubin is seeking re-election.

Washington Borough (Warren County):  Incumbents Jerry Brown, Edward France, Cassanda Gorshkov, and Sherri Musick face GOP primary challenges from Robert Mitchell, Betti Singh, Dale Parichuk, and Larry Main for four borough council seats.   France was a frequent candidate in Morris County before reinventing himself in Warren; he lost four races for Morris County Freeholder, a 2003 bid for State Senate, a 2013 run for mayor of Morristown, and 14 unsuccessful bids for Morristown councilman.

If there is a race we’re missing, please david(at)njglobe.com and let us know.