Who's running in June primary: GOP Senate race, Dover mayor highlight election battles
Three seats in the New Jersey Legislature and a crowded field of Dover Democrats with an eye on the mayor's office highlight the most competitive primary races for elected office this year in Morris County.
In the 25th legislative district, state Sen. Anthony Bucco is running unopposed in the Republican primary. But in neighboring District 26, Senator Joseph Pennacchio faces a challenge from Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo in the primary, which is scheduled for June 6.
NJ Senate: Tom Mastrangelo challenges Joseph Pennacchio
Pennacchio won the county Republican party endorsement in February but Mastrangelo is still seeking the upset. Districts 25 and 26 comprise the majority of Morris County and also cover most of northern Passaic County. In both districts, the winner of the GOP primary is usually a heavy favorite in the November election.
Mastrangelo has claimed in statements that Pennacchio has failed to stand up to the "woke leftist mob in Trenton." Pennacchio has countered by issuing audio recordings of phone calls in which Mastrangelo uses profanity to criticize key party members.
State Assembly: BettyLou DeCroce rematch
The Assembly race In District 26 also features a Republican face-off. Former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce has targeted incumbents Jay Webber and Brian Bergen to regain the seat she lost in 2021. Former Parsippany councilman Robert Peluso is also seeking one of the party's two nominations.
DeCroce lost to Webber and Christian Barranco in 2019, but redistricting this year means only two of them will get a rematch.
Like Mastrangelo, DeCroce is running "off the line" on the GOP primary ballot after placing a distant third in the Morris County Republican convention vote.
Commissioner race pits Tyfun Selen against Paul DeGroot
Only one seat is up for re-election on the all-GOP Morris County Commissioner board. The Republican primary will feature a rematch of incumbent Tyfun Selen and former assistant prosecutor Paul DeGroot, who beat Selen in last year's GOP primary to run in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. DeGroot went on to lose in November to U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
Drama among Dover Democrats
Dover's mayoral race has been busy in recent weeks, with one candidate thrown off the ballot, a court reversal and then the withdrawal of another challenger. The upshot is three Democrats will seek the party nomination in the heavily Democratic town: incumbent Carolyn Blackman, former Ward 3 Aldermen Edward Correa and former mayor James Dodd.
Dodd's nominating petition was initially rejected by acting Dover clerk Rey Julve, who ruled the candidate now lives outside the town's borders. But a Morris County judge overruled Julve in April and ordered that Dodd and his three affiliated board of aldermen candidates be put back on the ballot.
Following that decision, Ward 1 Alderwoman Sandra Wittner and her "Dover Forward" ticket dropped out of the race.
Parsippany, Morristown council races
Down-ballot in Morris County, there is no competition for many key mayoral and council offices either in the primary or general election.
In Morristown, for example, there are no candidates from either party declared for an open council seat representing Ward 1, leaving the field open for independent incumbent Robert Iannaccone. Town Council President Sandi Meyer, however, faces a challenge from fellow Democrat Chris Russo.
In Parsippany, eight candidates − five Republicans and three Democrats − are vying for three council seats in Morris County's most populous town, after two incumbents on the all-GOP board announced their retirement.
Morris County mayoral races
Several incumbent mayors are also unopposed in their party primaries, with no declared challengers from the opposing party. They include Tom Andes in Denville, Robert Conley in Madison, Sam Morris in Mine Hill, Paul Carelli in Riverdale and Tom Mulligan in Rockaway.
In Chatham borough, Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz is not running again. Councilwoman Caroline Dempsey is unopposed in the Democratic mayoral primary with no Republican declared, giving her a clear path to victory in the November election. Also unopposed are mayoral candidates Joe Nicastro in Mount Olive and Elmer Still in Netcong. Both are currently councilmen in their towns.
After the parties choose their standard-bearers in the primary, independent candidates will have until June 12 to file for the general election on Nov. 7.
List of key Morris elections
The following list identifies candidates in key Morris County primary races, excluding those running for seats on the county Democratic and Republican committees. A full list of primary candidates can be found on the Morris County Clerk's website.
Legislative District 26
SENATE (ONE SEAT): Republican: Joseph Pennacchio, Tom Mastrangelo; Democrat: Joan Waks
ASSEMBLY (TWO SEATS): Republican: Jay Webber, Brian Bergen, BettyLou DeCroce, Robert Peluso; Democrat: John Von Achen, Walter Mielarczyk
Legislative District 25
SENATE (ONE SEAT): Republican: Anthony Bucco; Democrat: Christine Clarke
ASSEMBLY (2 SEATS): Republican: Aura Dunn, Christian Barranco; Democrat: Jonathan Torres, Diane Salvatore
Legislative District 24
SENATE (ONE SEAT): Republican: F. Parker Space; Democrat: Edmund Khanoo
ASSEMBLY (TWO SEATS): Republican: Michael Inganamort, Dawn Fantasia, Joshua Aikens, Jason Sarnoski, Robert Kovic; Democrat: Baramdai "Alicia" Sharma
Legislative District 21
SENATE (ONE SEAT): Republican: Jon Bramnick; Democrat: Matt Marino
ASSEMBLY (2 SEATS): Republican: Nancy Munoz, Michele Matsikoudis; Democrat: Elizabeth Graner, Chris Weber
County offices
CLERK: Republican: Ann Grossi; Democrat: Caroline O'Brien
COMMISSIONER (One seat): Republican: Tyfun Selen, Paul DeGroot; Democrat: Jonathan Sackett
Municipal office:
NO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS THIS YEAR (excluding races for Republican and Democratic county committees): Boonton Township, Butler, Hanover, Jefferson, Lincoln Park, Mountain Lakes, Pequannock and Randolph.
BOONTON MAYOR: Republican: James Lynch; Democrat: Marie DeVenizia
BOONTON COUNCIL WARD 1 (ONE SEAT): Republican: John Meeham; Democrat: John Holly
BOONTON COUNCIL WARD 2 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Edward Robillard; Democrat: Crystal Davis
BOONTON COUNCIL WARD 3 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Joseph Bock; Democrat: Lauren Mills
BOONTON COUNCIL WARD 4 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Alexis Minson; Democrat: Sheila Donovan
CHATHAM MAYOR: Democrat Carolyn Dempsey is unopposed in the primary with no Republican declared.
DENVILLE MAYOR: Incumbent Tom Andes is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrat declared.
DENVILLE COUNCIL (THREE SEATS): Republican: Angela-Maria Cote, Louis Maffei, Robert Simpson; Democrat: Patrick Bieger, Alexander Maceira
DOVER MAYOR: Democrat: James Dodd, Edward Correa, Carolyn Blackman
DOVER ALDERMAN WARD 1 (ONE SEAT): Democrat: T.C. McCourt, Jessica Cruz
DOVER ALDERMAN WARD 2 (ONE SEAT): Democrat: Jennifer Podesta, Judith Rugg; Republican: Cindy Isaza
DOVER ALDERMAN WARD 3 (ONE SEAT): Democrat: John Londono, Michael Scarneo
DOVER ALDERMAN WARD 4 (ONE SEAT): Democrat: Arturo Santana, Carlos Valencia
EAST HANOVER MAYOR: Republican: Joseph Pannullo, Anthony Gelmi
FLORHAM PARK MAYOR: Republican: Mark Taylor, Charles Germershausen
FLORHAM PARK COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Charles Malone, Glen Johnstone, Doreeen Cali; Democrat: John William Upton
HARDING COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Christopher Yates, Rita Chipperson
KINNELON COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Sean Mabey, Cynthia Frank, Robert Schwartz, Tamara Roselius
LONG HILL TWP. COMMITTEE (TWO SEATS): Republican: Matthew Dorsi, Scott Lavender, Yasmine DiGiovanni, Frank Liberato
MADISON MAYOR: Incumbent Robert Conley is unopposed in the Democratic primary with no Republican declared.
MENDHAM COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Marilyn Althoff, William Russo; Democrat: Melissa Rawley-Payne
MENDHAM TWP. COMMITTEE (TWO SEATS): Republican: Elisa Wyman; Democrat: Amalia Duarte
MINE HILL MAYOR: Incumbent Sam Morris is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrat declared.
MINE HILL COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Fred Willis, Bret Coronato
MONTVILLE TWP. COMMITTEE (TWO SEATS): Republican: Matthew Kayne, June Witty; Democrats: Shari Sheffer, John Harmon
MORRIS PLAINS COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Arthur Brun Jr., Salvatore Cortese; Democrat: Melissa Goyeneche, William Houston
MORRIS TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE (TWO SEATS): Republican: Paul Johnson; Democrat: William Ravitz, Siva Jonnada
MORRISTOWN COUNCIL WARD 1 (ONE SEAT): No petitions were filed by either party.
MORRISTOWN COUNCIL WARD 2 (ONE SEAT): Democrat: Tina Lindsey
MORRISTOWN COUNCIL WARD 3 (ONE SEAT): Democrat: Robert Bell, Steven Pylypchuk
MORRISTOWN COUNCIL WARD 4 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Bruce Meringolo; Democrat: Sandra Mayer, Christopher Russo
MOUNT ARLINGTON COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: John Delaney, Melissa Fostle; Democrat: Charles Allen Torrise
MOUNT OLIVE MAYOR: Joe Nicastro is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrat declared.
MOUNT OLIVE COUNCIL (THREE SEATS): Republican: Alex Roman, Colleen Labow, Mary Lalama; Democrat: Victor Jackier, Gregory Winick, Irene Sergonis
MOUNT OLIVE COUNCIL (ONE EXPIRED TERM): Republican: Chuck Aaron; Democrat: John Reiner
NETCONG MAYOR: Elmer Still is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrat declared.
PARSIPPANY COUNCIL (THREE SEATS): Republican: Paul Carifi Jr., Adam Kandil, Matt McGrath, Gary Martin, Dharmesh Desai; Democrat Judy Hernandez, Bernard Clarkin, Matt Kavanaugh
RIVERDALE MAYOR: Incumbent Paul Carelli is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrat declared.
ROCKAWAY MAYOR: Incumbent Thomas Mulligan is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrat declared.
ROCKAWAY COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Arnold Bernard, Melissa Burnside, Jeanne Coady, Joyce Freiermuth, Patrick McDonald; Democrat: Robert DeVito Jr.
ROCKAWAY TWP. MAYOR: Republican: Tucker Kelley, Joseph Jackson; Democrat: Emmanuel Friedlander
ROCKAWAY TWP. COUNCIL (AT LARGE, THREE SEATS): Republican: Pawel Wojtowicz, Howard Kritz, Adam Salberg; Democrat: Emily Kullmann, Matthew Davis, Douglas Romaine
ROXBURY COUNCIL WARD 1 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Sean Potillo; Democrat: Jeanne McKinley
ROXBURY COUNCIL WARD 2 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Jacqueline Albrecht; Democrat: Corine Borrero
ROXBURY COUNCIL WARD 3 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Fred Hall, Daniel Habig; Democrat: Daniel Habig Sarah Statmore
ROXBURY COUNCIL WARD 4 (ONE SEAT): Republican: Ralph Casendino Jr.; Democrat: Brian Considine
VICTORY GARDENS COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Democrat: Stuart Hale, Ismael Lorenzo
WASHINGTON TWP. COMMITTEE (ONE SEAT): Republican: Matthew Murello; Democrat: Deborah DeSaulniers.
WHARTON COUNCIL (TWO SEATS): Republican: Vincent Binkoski, Ana Jones.
Correction: A prior version of this story misspelled the names of 24th District candidates Jason Sarnoski and Robert Kovic and omitted the names of two Democrats also running in the district, Edmund Khanoo and Baramdai "Alicia" Sharma. It also listed District 21 candidates Matt Marino, Elizabeth Graner and Chris Weber in the wrong district.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris County primary candidates: Democrats, Republicans face off
