Election Guide 2018: A Preview of the Maplewood and South Orange Ballots
MAPLEWOOD AND SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – It’s Election Day this Tuesday, November 6. Here’s everything you need to know about the ballot before you go to the polls to vote:
STATE ELECTIONS
UNITED STATES SENATOR
New Jersey will elect a new senator (six-year term) when they go to the polls on Tuesday. Running from the major parties are incumbent Robert Menendez (D) and Bob Hugin (R), with six additional candidates who are “nomination by petition” on the ballot as well. Menendez has served as senator since 2006.
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Donald Payne, Jr. (D) and Agha Khan (R) are running for Member of the House of Representatives (two-year term), 10th Congressional District, which includes both Maplewood and South Orange. There are also three other candidates, all nomination by petition. Payne is the current Representative, and was first elected in 2012.
ESSEX COUNTY ELECTIONS
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Incumbent Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. (D) and John Chiaia (R) are running for Essex County Executive (four-year-term), with one additional candidate who is a nomination by petition. DiVincenzo was first elected in 2002.
SURROGATE
Alturrick Kenney (D) and John Anello (R) are running for Essex County Surrogate (five-year term).
SHERIFF
Armando Fontoura (D) and Pasquale Capozzoli (R) are running for Essex County Sheriff (three-year term). Fontoura has been sheriff since 1991.
SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION
There are 11 candidates on the ballot for the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education (SOMBOE): Narda Chisholm-Greene, Michael Laskowski, Bruno Navarro, Shannon Cuttle, Felisha George, Avery Julien, Marian Cutler, James Wilkes, Christopher, Trzaska, Annemarie Maini, and Javier Farfan.
Felisha George, Avery Julien, and James Wilkes have withdrawn from the race, but their names remain on the ballot.
Voters can select up to three candidates to serve a three year term on the board.
Maini is the only incumbent running for re-election; current SOMBOE board members Madhu Pai (2nd Vice President) and Chris Sabin (1st Vice President) are not seeking re-election.
Candidate statements can be found here for Bruno, here for Farfan, here for Maini, and here for Cuttle. (The other candidates did not submit statements to TAPinto SOMA for publication.)
STATE PUBLIC QUESTION
There is one public question on the ballot. New Jersey voters will be asked to vote on “Public Question No. 1: Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” which reads on the ballot: Do you approve the ‘Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act’? This bond act authorizes the State to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $500 million. The money from the sale of the bonds would be used to provide grants to schools, school districts, county vocational school districts, and county colleges. Money from the grants would be used to build, equip, and expand facilities to increase career and technical education program capacity. Money would also be used for school security upgrades and school district water infrastructure improvement projects.
The Interpretive Statement following the question is on the ballot as follows: This act would allow the State to borrow a total principal amount of $500 million. This money would be used to provide grants to county vocational school districts and county colleges to construct and equip buildings to increase capacity in career and technical education programs. The money would also be used to provide grants for school security projects at kindergarten through grade 12 schools. The money would also be used to provide grants for school district water infrastructure improvement projects. Three hundred fifty million dollars would support county vocational school district projects and school security projects. Fifty million dollars would support county college projects. One hundred million dollars would support school district water infrastructure improvement projects.
MAPLEWOOD – MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ELECTION
There is an additional set of candidates on the Maplewood ballot, those running for Members of the Maplewood Township Committee. There are three candidates, Nancy Adams (D), Greg Lembrich (D), and Ileana Castillo (I), who is a nomination by petition. Adams and Lembrich are running together and are both currently Township Committee members. No nomination was made for a Republican candidate.
Voters can select up to two candidates for a three-year-term.
Lembrich’s candidate statement can be found here. Castillo and Adams did not submit statements to TAPinto SOMA for publication.
SOUTH ORANGE – BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS ELECTION
In South Orange, there is also an uncontested race for Member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, 3rd District, for the unexpired term. The only candidate is Tyshammie Cooper.
A sample ballot for South Orange residents can be found here.
WHERE TO VOTE
Not sure where to vote? Click here to find your polling location. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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