Democrats Win Big, Voter Turnout Up in SOMA and Essex County 2018 Elections
MAPLEWOOD AND SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Residents of SOMA, and Essex County, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the “Line A” Democratic candidates, with incumbent Robert Menendez winning for U.S. Senate and incumbent Donald Payne, Jr., for District 10 House of Representatives.
In Essex County, incumbent Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. (D) was elected County Executive, Alturrick Kenney (D) was elected Surrogate, and Armando Fontoura (D) was elected sheriff.
The surrogate seat needed to be filled after Theodore “Ted” Stephens II, who formerly held the position, was nominated to be Essex County prosecutor.
SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION
With three open seats, two clear winners emerged with Annemarie Mani receiving 17.1% of the vote and Shannon Cuttle 17% of the vote. The third seat, however, is still too close to call with Javier Farfan and Narda Chisholm-Green each receiving about 14% of the vote, and separated by about 50 votes. Full coverage here.
MAPLEWOOD MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Democrats Greg Lembrich and Nancy Adams, incumbents and running mates, defeated Independent candidate Ileana Castillo for two seats on the Maplewood Township Committee. Full coverage here.
SOUTH ORANGE – BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS ELECTION
South Orange District 2 residents also voted in an uncontested county freeholder race. The only person on the ballot was Tyshammie Cooper, a Democrat who is currently an East Orange council member. She earned 99% of the vote.
Cooper will serve out the remainder of Britnee Timberlake’s three-year term. Timberlake was last elected to the freeholder board in 2017, but is now serving in the state Assembly for District 34. Timberlake replaced Sheila Oliver, who became lieutenant governor.
STATE PUBLIC QUESTION
There was one public question on the ballot, “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” which passed with a “Yes” vote of about 67% in Essex County and about 52% statewide in NJ.
VOTER TURNOUT
Voter turnout was higher in the 2018 election then in 2017 in both Essex County and South Orange and Maplewood.
In Essex County in 2017, about 31% of registered voters participated in the election, and in 2018, 45% of voters did.
In the Maplewood Township Committee election, more than 3,000 additional votes were cast in 2018 vs. 2017, and in the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education election, more than 5,000 additional votes were cast in 2018 vs 2017.
All of the information here is based on unofficial results from the Essex County Clerks office, with 508 of 550 districts reporting. Results for Maplewood District 7 were not available as of 11 a.m. on Nov. 7 from the Essex County Clerk, and results from the Maplewood Clerk were used.
Related articles
Maplewood Township Committee Election Results; Winners Issue Statements
South Orange – Maplewood Board of Education 2018 Election Results