Donald DiFrancesco Archives - New Jersey Globe

Happy 100th Birthday to Anthony E. Russo, ex-Senator, mayor

August 7, 2026 5:10 amAugust 13, 2026 11:45 am

Former State Sen. Anthony E. Russo, who served in the legislature from 1978 to 1982 and spent 27 years as a Union Township Committeeman – ten of them as mayor — will celebrate his 100th birthday tomorrow. He is the...

Joanne Rajoppi, legendary Union County Clerk, dies at 78

July 16, 2026 4:02 pmJuly 17, 2026 10:20 am

Joanne H. Rajoppi, the highly-regarded Union County Clerk for 30 years, a pioneer for women running for office in New Jersey, an expert on election law and county government, a noted historian, and one of the most popular vote-getters in...

Trailblazer: Justice James J. Coleman

January 19, 2026 12:09 amJanuary 18, 2026 10:26 pm

James H. Coleman, J. (1933-2024), the son of a sharecropper who was forced to attend racially segregated public schools in Virginia, was the first Black to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. Coleman joined the New Jersey Department of...

Trailblazer: Justice James J. Coleman

January 20, 2025 12:09 amJanuary 20, 2025 1:18 am

James H. Coleman, J. (1933-2024), the son of a sharecropper who was forced to attend racially segregated public schools in Virginia, was the first Black to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. Coleman joined the New Jersey Department of...

DiFrancesco defeats Howes for Somerset GOP chair

June 18, 2024 9:00 pmJune 18, 2024 9:34 pm

Tracy DiFrancesco, the Watchung GOP municipal chair and daughter of former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco, unseated two-term incumbent Tim Howes in the race for Somerset County Republican chair. DiFrancesco won 222-140, a 61%-39% margin. She was boosted by allies of Republican...

Tracy DiFrancesco launches bid for Somerset GOP chair

February 28, 2024 6:47 amFebruary 28, 2024 5:19 pm

Watchung Republican Municipal Chairman Tracy DiFrancesco will run for Somerset County GOP Chairman when the party reorganizes in June, setting up a showdown with the incumbent, Timothy Howes. “I am running to restore the trust, transparency, and leadership of the...

Trailblazer: Justice James J. Coleman

January 15, 2024 12:06 amAugust 5, 2024 9:17 am

James H. Coleman, Jr., 85, the son of a sharecropper who was forced to attend racially segregated public schools in Virginia, was the first Black to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. Coleman joined the New Jersey Department of...