FLEMINGTON, NJ - The Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office has released the names of candidates who have filed petitions to run for municipal office in the June primaries. Please note this list is unofficial and subject to change.
Republicans Jeff Kuhl and Susan J. Solloway and Democrats Daniel Connor and Robert Parkanyi are running for two-3 year terms for the Board of County Commissioners.
In Bethlehem Township, Republicans Steve Keefe and Paul F. Lenzi, Jr. are running for two-3 year terms for the Township Committee. There are no petitions filled by the Democratic Party.
In Califon Borough, Democrats Micheal Medea and Leo M. Janas are running for two-3 year terms for Borough Council. No petitions have been filed by the Republican Party.
In Clinton Town, Nick Bruno and Kyle Perloff and Democrats Dan Brkich and James Lestrange are running for two-3 year terms for Town Council.
In Clinton Township, Thomas M. Kochanowski and C. Andy Hardiman are running for two-3 year terms for Township Council. No petitions have been filed by the Democratic Party.
In Franklin Township, Republicans Donald Scott Edelmann and Jessica Moustakas-Blew and Democrat Tyler Powell are running for two-3 year terms for the Township Committee.
In Glen Gardner Borough, Republicans Richard Mitterando and Susan Welch are running for two-3 year terms for Borough Council. No petitions have been filed by the Democratic Party.
In Hampton Borough, Republicans Douglas E. Rega and Jeffrey Tampier are running for two-3 year terms for Borough Council, and Republican Lee E. Hansen is running for one-1 year unexpired term for Borough Council. No petitions have been filed by the Democratic Party for either office.
In High Bridge Borough, Republican Steven Silvestri, Lauren Hamlin and Alfred Schweikert and Democrat Coleen Conroy are running for two-3 year terms for Borough Council.
In Lebanon Borough, Republicans Richard Burton and Sam Berger are running for two-3 year terms for Borough Council. No petitions have been filed by the Democratic Party.
In Lebanon Township, Republican Jay S. Wojcik is running for a one-3 year term for the Township Committee. No petitions have been filed by the Democratic Party.
In Tewksbury Township, Republicans Peter Melick and Dana Desiderio are running for two-3 year terms for the Township Committee. There are no petitions filed by the Democratic Party.
In Union Township, Republicans David DeGiralamo and John Scott and Democrat Nicholas F. LaBelle are running for two 3-year terms for the Township Committee.
BELMAR, NJ - Johanna Roper-Robinson, has officially announced her candidacy for the Belmar Borough Council, marking a significant challenge to the incumbent Republican Councilwoman, Dr. Jodi Kinney. Roper-Robinson believes her deep roots in Belmar and experience as a former business owner and volunteer, will bring fresh perspectives and Democratic leadership to the council chambers.
If Roper-Robinson is successful it will mean full control by the Democratic Party of the Belmar Council for the first time since 2016.
With four generations of her family calling Belmar home, Roper-Robinson touts she has long been a prominent figure within the borough, “I grew up in Belmar, owned a store right on Main Street (Timeless Treasures Hand Painted Furniture and Unique Accessories) and have volunteered in many different organizations. I am eager to bring all that experience to the Council, where I can help the business community to grow and our civic organizations to flourish."
She currently serves as a member of the Belmar Public Library’s Board of Trustees and past Vice President. Reflecting on her mother's influence, who served as the former Director of the Belmar Public Library, Roper-Robinson emphasized the importance of honoring her legacy through service. She stated, "My mother was the former Director of the Belmar Public Library and I grew up watching her build the library as an institution. It’s important to me to honor her legacy, which is why I love serving on the Board of Trustees."
Furthermore, Roper-Robinson's believes that her involvement in various organizations, such as the Belmar Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and the Belmar Woman’s Club, underscores her dedication to enhancing educational opportunities and fostering community cohesion.
Mayor Gerald Buccafusco expressed his support for Roper-Robinson's candidacy, recognizing her as a valuable asset to the council. "Johanna will be a tremendous addition to our Council," Mayor Buccafusco remarked, echoing the sentiment of many within the community who view Roper-Robinson as a beacon of leadership and service.
]]>NEWARK — Leading up to the 2022 municipal election, Team Baraka received 590 campaign contributions totaling $713,375.76 and made 497 expenditures totaling $731,728.32 - but failed to report any of those transactions as required by law, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The state’s campaign finance watchdog filed complaints against Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Team Baraka and the campaign’s treasurer, David McKnight, on March 20. ELEC announced the new complaints on Wednesday, March 27.
“The whole reason our agency was set up is so voters can know who provides the money to our candidates and how they spend their money,” ELEC’s Acting Executive Director Joseph W. Donohue told TAPinto Newark. “And so, enforcing our basic rules of disclosure is our main mission in terms of campaign financing.”
A separate ELEC complaint against Baraka and McKnight claims that the 29-day and 11-day pre-election reports for the 2022 municipal race were not filed until May 26, 2023, and Sept. 1, 2023, “well after the 2022 municipal election.”
Between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, Baraka and McKnight received 568 contributions totaling $400,857 and made 749 expenditures totaling $847,246.96, the ELEC complaint states.
The complaint follows Baraka’s announcement that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. He responded in a prepared statement through a campaign spokesperson.
“This is about filing necessary paperwork on time regarding our municipal races and absolutely needs to be done,” Baraka said. “We have a firm handling this, and I communicated to them that this was unacceptable and needs to be taken care of as soon as humanly possible. I believe deeply in government transparency, and I am confident this will be done and that every dollar will be accounted for and reported.”
The law firm PKF O’Connor Davies is handling the case, the spokesperson said.
Neither phone nor text messages left with McKnight were returned. An email to each of the sitting City Council members named in the complaint also was not returned on Wednesday.
ARCHIVE: Kelly’s Previous Campaign War Chest Becomes An Issue in the West Ward
It’s not the first time Baraka has been named in an ELEC complaint.
In 2021, Baraka paid $30,634.28 in ELEC fines under a consent order settling claims, including for late reporting of contributions, late reporting of occupation and employer information for certain contributions and for the receipt of contributions from six separate contributors that exceeded the contribution limit and were not refunded to the contributor, according to the order. The complaint was filed in connection with the 2014 municipal election.
The new complaints state that Baraka, Team Baraka and McKnight could face fines of $9,800 for each reporting transaction that was not reported in the manner or in the time required by law. Donohue anticipates this could amount to more than what Baraka was fined in 2021.
“We want the candidates complying with our disclosure laws,” Donohue said. “That’s the whole point. It’s not fun to be punitive. The law’s the law. We’re supposed to have transparent elections in this state in terms of campaign finances, and that’s been the law for 50 years.”
To view the complaints, visit the ELEC website.
TAPinto Newark Editor Mark J. Bonamo contributed to this article.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - Hunterdon County has announced, unofficially, the names of candidates running for municipal positions in the June primaries.
For Flemington Borough, seeking the Democratic nominations to run for two open three-year terms on the council, are incumbent Tony Parker and Jessica Hand.
Seeking the Republican nominations are Bryan Cimino and Marc Hain.
All candidates are running unopposed for their respective nominations.
In Raritan Township, seeking the Republican nominations for two open three-year seats on the township committee, are incumbents Scott Sipos and Bob King.
Seeking the Democratic nomination is Khushwant Pall. No petition has been filed for the second nomination.
All candidates are running unopposed in Raritan.
Primary elections will be held June 4.
]]>LITTLE FALLS, NJ - Mayor James Damiano is expected to run unopposed for reelection in Little Falls' Municipal Election while Democratic incumbents Anthony Sgobba and Christine Hablitz will face off against Republicans Vincent Miraglia and Jason Sumbaly.
The Damiano, Sgobba, and Habitz slate released a statement regarding their reelection bid after submitting petitions to get on the ballot earlier this week.
“Our team has delivered on promises to stabilize taxes, improve municipal services, invest in infrastructure, and keep the community safe,” Damiano, Hablitz, and Sgobba said.. “In recent years, the Township has applied for and received record levels of grant funding, helping kickstart a comprehensive streetscape project, and restore the Little Falls roadway improvement program that was suspended by previous administrations. The Little Falls Police and Fire Departments are proactively supported by the administration, receiving the critical resources they need to keep us safe now, while also planning for future needs. Accomplishments like these, and many more, have been made at little added cost to local taxpayers, who saw an overall tax decrease just last year. This isn’t politics, this is good government in action.”
The Municipal and Board election is set for November 5, with candidates first having to make it through the primaries on June 4.
]]>RARITAN, NJ - Candidates have been announced for the primaries for two open full-term positions and one unexpired term in the June primaries for Raritan Borough.
There will be two open seats and one unexpired term to be voted on in November. Candidates are running unopposed in the June primaries for their party's respective nominations.
On the Republican side, incumbents David Fritzinger and Joyce Melitsky are seeking the nominations to run for two open seats on the council in November. Incumbent Umesh Agrawal, who was chosen to fill a seat on council vacated by Nicolas Carra after he was elected mayor in 2023, is seeking the nomination to run for the unexpired term.
For the Democratic nominations, David Marder and Heath Hoffmeister are seeking the nominations to run for the two full-term open seats. Paige Shovlin is seeking the nomination to run for the unexpired term.
Primary elections will be held June 4.
There are no municipal elections in Bridgewater this year.
]]>PLAINFIELD, NJ — On Saturday, March 2, the Plainfield Democratic City Committee endorsed Steve Hockaday and Charles McRae for City At-Large and Third Ward city council, respectively. Two days later, Plainfield Board of Education Commissioner Sarah Virgo announced her candidacy for the Third Ward seat.
At today's 4pm filing deadline, there were no surprises, as these are the only candidates who submitted petitions to run for the two seats. The lack of challengers means that Council President Steve Hockaday will be the first candidate in 11 years to avoid a Democratic primary challenger. The last time that happened was when Bridget Rivers successfully ran for the Fourth Ward seat in 2013. The Democratic Primary will take place on Tuesday, June 4.
There are two Plainfield City Council seats up for grabs each year, except for mayoral election years, where there is only one. Both of the 2006 Plainfield City Council Democratic primary races featured an unopposed candidate, and the elections in 2007, 2008, and 2010 featured one unopposed race each. In recent years, elections have become more contentious.
While candidates running on their own have run successfully for the majority of Plainfield's seven City Council seats, the last time that a candidate won the City At-Large seat without the endorsement of the Plainfield Democratic Party City Committee was when Harold Mitchell won in 1988.
]]>BELMAR, NJ - Dr. Jodi Kinney, the sole Republican member of the Belmar Council, has officially announced her intention to seek reelection for a second term. Completing the final year of her inaugural three-year tenure, Kinney’s announcement marks her third election bid for a council position in the borough. Despite a setback in her first campaign in 2020, Kinney succeeded in securing a council seat in 2021, edging out competitor Jerry Buccafusco in a close race. Buccafusco ran successfully for mayor the next year.
Kinney's tenure on the council has seen significant political shifts, with the Republican majority transitioning to a minority in the five-member council. A victory in the upcoming election would make Kinney the first Republican to be reelected to a full second term on the Belmar Council in over 30 years, marking a historic milestone in the borough's political landscape.
In a statement, Kinney expressed her dedication to the Borough of Belmar, where she has resided for 30 years. Alongside her husband Dickie and their two children, who attend St. Rose High School, Kinney has been an active member of the community, both professionally as a Doctor of Chiropractic with two thriving practices, including one in Belmar, and in her role on the council.
During her term, Kinney said she has been at the forefront of several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Belmar. Her efforts include working towards keeping Verizon monopoles off the beachfront, spearheading the Skatepark committee to rebuild an all-adaptive skatepark in Dempsey Park, and advocating for fiscal responsibility to minimize residents' tax burdens. Kinney has also collaborated with the Shade Tree Commission on tree planting projects and supported the Recreation Department to ensure children have safe and enjoyable recreational options.
"Belmar is a unique town, welcoming tourism in the summer with our beautiful beaches and marina, while also enjoying our peaceful off-season months as locals. It's a wonderful place to live and raise a family," Kinney shared in her statement. Her commitment to the community and its businesses is evident as she looks forward to the opportunity to continue her work. "I love living in Belmar and have the best intentions for our Community and Businesses in town. I hope to be successful in November so I may continue all of the hard work that I have begun," she added.
Kinney believes her reelection bid is seen as a crucial step in maintaining a voice for fiscal conservatism and community-oriented initiatives on the council. She stresses that her approach to governance, emphasizing bipartisanship and local engagement, underscores her dedication to Belmar’s residents and their well-being.
]]>NEW BRUNSWICK – The five incumbents running to retain their seats on the City Council will not face any challengers in the June 4 primary.
The deadline to file came and went at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 25, and only Democrats John Anderson, Manuel Castañeda, Matthew Ferguson, Glenn Fleming and Suzanne Sicora Ludwig had submitted petitions.
Ferguson is in the unique position of having to run just a few months after he was appointed to the City Council in January.
He has stepped into the unexpired term of Kevin Egan, who resigned from the council to take his seat in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 17th District.
Ferguson is running for a two-year term.
Castañeda is running with his two-year term about to expire. He joined the City Council in Jan. 2022 along with Petra Gaskins after the council expanded from five to seven members.
Fleming was appointed to the City Council to fill out the term of Councilman Jimmie Cook in July 2012. He was elected to a full term on the council in November 2012.
Sicora Ludwig was elected to the City Council on Jan. 4, 2017. She served as City Council President in 2021-22.
Anderson, who assumed the role as the City Council Vice President after Egan’s resignation, has been on the City Council since 2012.
The general election will be held Nov. 5.
For more information about voting, click here.
]]>HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - Mayor Robert Britting and Committeeman Shawn Lipani have announced their candidacy for the Hillsborough Township Committee in the upcoming November election.
This duo is committed to continuing their innovative leadership and transparent governance to the residents of Hillsborough.
Britting, known for his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, has been at the forefront of shaping a vision for sustainable growth and prosperity in Hillsborough. Lipani, a dedicated public servant with a deep understanding of the local economy, has developed strong relationships within the community through years of active engagement and service. Both are deeply focused on community planning, while protecting the core values of Hillsborough Township.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Hillsborough Republican party for this
election cycle” Britting said. “Our common-sense and business-like approach to
government has been paying dividends for years and we need to keep Hillsborough heading
in the right direction unlike the disastrous policies of our state government.”
Running on a platform of fiscal accountability, protecting open space, safety for our families
and reaffirming Hillsborough’s commitment to sound infrastructure, Britting and Lipani are
poised to steer Hillsborough towards a flourishing future.
Both candidates boast an impressive track record of listening to the needs of their neighbors and acting decisively to address them.
Notably, almost 1,000 acres of land have been protected from overdevelopment since Britting and former Mayor Lipani led the Township Committee. To their credit, during that same time frame the tax rate remained flat, a multitude of new businesses set up shop in town and Hillsborough was named the 2nd safest town in northeastern USA.
"The residents of Hillsborough deserve leaders who not only share their values but who are
also willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work," said Shawn Lipani. "Hillsborough is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. We want to preserve the qualities that make our community special while pushing forward with initiatives that will enhance the quality of life for all residents."
Britting and Lipani are keenly focused on ensuring that the voices of Hillsborough citizens are
heard and that the Township Committee remains responsive and accountable. As election day approaches, the Britting and Lipani team encourages residents to connect with their campaign
on all digital channels to learn more about their mission and join them in creating a vibrant
future for Hillsborough Township.
For more information on their campaign, to volunteer, or to contribute, please visit:
Hillsborough GOP website: www.hillsboroughnjgop.com