Melonie Marano Archives - New Jersey Globe

Murad wins Somerset GOP convention for county commissioner

March 15, 2022 9:47 pm

Watchung school board member Amber Murad won the Somerset County Republican organization line for County Commissioner on Tuesday, defeating former Bound Brook Councilman John-Paul Levin by a vote of 124 to 81, 60.5%-39.5%. Murad is expected to face the Democratic...

Somerset GOP picking congressional, countywide candidates on Tuesday

March 14, 2022 10:31 amMarch 14, 2022 12:42 pm

The final convention in the race for the GOP nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district will be held on Tuesday night in Somerset County. The front-runner, former Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield), faces three challengers, including...

Somerset Dems celebrate Murphy aide’s win in Green Brook

November 25, 2020 12:38 pmNovember 25, 2020 6:16 pm

Matt Stanisci is a familiar face in Trenton, where he works for Gov. Phil Murphy. Now he’s an elected official in Somerset County. Stanisci finished first in a race for two township committee seats there, running three votes ahead of...

Democrats projected to win full control in Somerset

November 4, 2020 1:14 amNovember 4, 2020 4:41 am

Somerset County Freeholders Brian Levine and Brian Gallagher are projected to lose their re-election bids against North Plainfield Councilman Doug Singleterry and former Hillsborough Councilman Paul Drake, bringing the county under complete Democratic control just two years after Democrats began...

Somerset Republicans raise alarms over hiring of politically-connected communications staffer

April 22, 2020 12:01 amApril 22, 2020 9:00 am

Republican freeholders in Somerset County are raising alarms over the hiring of a communications staffer with ties to their Democratic colleagues. In a party-line vote held last week, the Freeholder Board voted to bring on Lauren Guastella as a digital...

Bateman won’t block Christodoulou’s nomination

January 30, 2020 2:04 pmJanuary 31, 2020 10:49 am

State Sen. Kip Bateman said he’s signed off on Somerset County Democratic Vice Chair Zenon Christodoulou’s nomination to the state Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency board. “Yes, I have,” he said. “They recommended some new people to the tax board,...

Murphy swears in Marano, Russo ushering in Democratic control in Somerset

January 3, 2020 5:20 pmJanuary 4, 2020 12:05 pm

Somerset County Freeholder Melonie Marano was Sworn in Friday, officially bringing an end to Republicans’ decades-long control there and ushering in a Democratic Majority that Democrats will keep through at least 2021. “I am humbled and honored to take this...