Raymond Graham Archives - New Jersey Globe

Grilo takes over for Hudson’s longest-serving mayor

January 5, 2020 6:19 pmJanuary 5, 2020 6:57 pm

Dina Grilo took office on Friday as the mayor of East Newark, six months after unseating Hudson County’s longest-serving mayor in the Democratic primary. Grilo, a 47-year-old financial services executive, defeated Joseph Smith by a vote of 175 to 144. ...

East Newark, which tossed an 8-term Democrat in Tuesday’s primary, could be New Jersey’s least Republican town

June 7, 2019 3:15 pmJune 7, 2019 3:35 pm

How Democratic is East Newark, where an off-the-line challenger ousted a 78-year-old mayor who has been in office since 1987? Democrats have a 91%-1% voter registration edge in the smallest municipality in Hudson County. Of the 690 registered voters in...

In East Newark, eight-term mayor faces first opponent in 16 years

May 7, 2019 4:41 pmMay 7, 2019 4:44 pm

Hudson County’s longest-serving mayor is facing his first challenger in sixteen years. Joseph R. Smith, 78, the mayor of East Newark (pop. 2,406) since 1987, is defending his seat in the June Democratic primary against Dina Grilo, a 47-year-old executive...

Former Hudson County mayor dies

December 22, 2018 10:28 am

Cookie Graham, a former mayor of East Newark, passed away on December 19. He was 91. A U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II and the Korean War, he drove a delivery truck for Keebler Cookies before opening...