Peter Shapiro Archives - New Jersey Globe

Mejia’s win shows Bloomfield is moving left

February 23, 2026 4:02 pmFebruary 24, 2026 12:16 am

Bloomfield was once a middle-class, factory town, Republican stronghold that delivered huge margins to candidates of the Grand Old Party: President Ronald Reagan won it by over 6,000 votes and 64% in 1984, and Gov. Thomas Kean carried it by...

Pat Sebold won’t seek re-election as Essex County Commissioner

February 19, 2026 8:00 pmFebruary 20, 2026 10:43 am

Patricia Sebold, one of the longest-serving county commissioners in the state and the longest-serving in Essex County history, will not seek re-election to a twelfth term this year. Sebold has also been elected to the Essex County Board of Commissioners...

Labor Leader: The story of Tom Giblin’s magnificent political career

September 1, 2025 12:15 amAugust 31, 2025 11:20 pm

Thomas P. Giblin got hooked on New Jersey politics at the age of seven, when his father won a seat on the Essex County Board of Freeholders in 1954. Over the last eight decades, he’s had a front-row seat watching...

Arango re-elected Hudson GOP Chairman

June 24, 2025 7:19 pmJune 25, 2025 1:20 pm

Hudson County GOP Chairman Jose Arango was re-elected tonight without opposition to a post he’s held since 2000. Arango, a former assemblyman, is the longest-serving Republican county chairman in the state. He first served in 1989, and again since 2000. ...

Trailblazer: Mayor Kenneth Gibson

January 20, 2025 12:08 amJanuary 19, 2025 8:55 pm

Kenneth Gibson (1932-2019) became the first Black to serve as mayor of a major northeastern city when he ousted two-term incumbent Hugh Addonizio in 1970. Gibson had served as an engineer for the New Jersey Highway Department and as the...

The O’Toole Chronicles: 40 Years

December 3, 2024 12:01 amDecember 3, 2024 11:44 am

I recently hit a milestone in my life and, frankly, I am grateful and humbled by hitting this milestone— 40 years in politics and public service. I happened to turn 60 years of age when I also celebrated my 40-year...

Peter Shapiro, former Essex County Executive and gubernatorial candidate, dies at 71

March 29, 2024 5:20 pm

Former Essex County Executive Peter Shapiro, a smart, innovative and skillful politician who challenged the powerful Essex County political machine in stunning upset victories in races for the New Jersey State Assembly at age 23 and for County Executive at...