Highland Park mayor cruises in Democratic primary

Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster appears on her way to being elected to a full term after winning Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Foster, who became mayor earlier this year, received an unofficial 1,269 votes, according to Middlesex County. Her challenger, Monique Coleman, received an unofficial 707 votes.

No Republicans have filed to run for mayor. If no independents file, Foster will run unopposed in the November election.

Foster, a longtime borough official, had the backing of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, while Coleman, who has sought public office on two occasions in recent years, ran under the Highland Park Democratic Party banner.

Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster
Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster

Foster, who served on the Borough Council since 2000, was named acting mayor earlier this year following the Dec. 31, 2022, resignation of Gayle Brill Mittler. Foster was elected mayor in late January by the Council and will serve until the end of the year.

Coleman previously ran for mayor in the 2019 Democratic primary against Brill Mittler.

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Foster's Democratic Borough Council running mates ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary. Councilman Matthew Hersh received an unofficial 1,617 votes and Councilman Jason Postelnik received, 1,611 votes.

If no independents file, they, too, will be running unopposed in November.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Highland Park NJ mayor cruises in Democratic primary