Ten NJ primary races to watch in Morris County. Will Mendham mayor get U.S. Senate nod?
November's presidential election will grab most of the attention. But Morris County will have a handful of local and congressional races decided in New Jersey's June 4 primary next week.
Mendham Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner's in a four-way race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, while three candidates are vying for the right to represent the GOP in the fall against U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents the Morris-centric 11th Congressional District.
Nine towns − Dover, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Long Hill, Mendham, Pequannock, Rockaway and Randolph − have competitive primaries on either the Democratic or Republican side for municipal offices. Randolph is the sole Morris County town that will see contested primaries for both parties.
Two-thirds of June 4 primary candidates unopposed
Despite that, Tuesday's primary will be a reminder of the limited choices local voters often have come election time for the officials who oversee local property taxes, road repairs, police departments and other services.
Of the 72 council or committee seats on the 2024 ballot, no petition was filed for candidates from one party or the other in 48 cases, meaning about two-thirds of primary winners will be unopposed come November, barring the entry of independent or third-party contenders.
In towns with municipal races, the competition will be only for council or committee seats. Only two publicly-elected mayors - Republican Tim Drag in Chester and Democrat David Holman in Victory Gardens - are up for election this year. Neither will be challenged in the primary or by the opposing party in the general election.
In towns operating under the township committee or council-and-manager forms of government, the committee or council chooses a member from its ranks to serve as mayor. In those towns, mayors must retain their committee or council seat to be considered for mayor.
Only Republicans and Democrats conduct primaries to choose their candidates. Independents and representatives of other political parties have until June 4 to submit a candidate petition for municipal elections.
At present, independent Morristown Council Member Robert Iannaccone is the only elected office holder in Morris County not affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties.
Congressional races
Serrano Glassner's main competition is expected to come from South Jersey businessman Curtis Bashaw, as they seek the Republican line in November for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. Congressman Andy Kim is expected to win the Democratic nomination.
The 11th district race features three Republicans seeking to run against Democrat Sherill. Two are from Belleville: Dr. Raafat Barsoom, a physician and Egyptian immigrant, and "Jersey Joe" Belnome, a self-described "property maintenance inspector and former bricklayer," who already has collected endorsements from the three county GOP committees — Morris, Passaic and Essex — in the district.
Rounding out the field is John Sauers, a 27-year-old native of Rockaway Township in Morris County with a graduate degree in forensic accounting and experience in financial management.
More: Three GOP challengers debate on Trump, Ukraine, flooding in bid to oppose Mikie Sherrill
Town-by-town primary overview
No municipal-office elections are scheduled this year for: Denville, Mine Hill, Morristown, Mount Olive, Parsippany, Rockaway Township, Roxbury
Boonton
There are no competitive primary races on either side for council seats in all four wards. No Republican is declared to run in Ward 4, creating a clear path to a general election victory for Ward 4 Democratic incumbent Benjamin Weisman.
Boonton Township
Incumbent township Committee member Thomas SanFilippo is running unopposed in the GOP primary. Democrat Raymond Menard also is running unopposed, setting up a SanFilippo-Menard showdown in November.
Butler
Two Republicans are on the ballot for two council seats, including incumbent Robert Meier. Robert Fox is not running for re-election, so Jose Guzman is stepping in for the GOP. With no Democrats declared, both Guzman and Meier have a clear path to general election victory.
Chatham
With two council seats open, and no Republicans declared, incumbent Democrats Katherine Hay and Jocelyn Mathiasen have a clear path to re-election.
Chatham Township
Mark Lois, the lone Republican on the otherwise all-Democratic elected body, is the only committee member up for re-election. He is unopposed in the primary, as is Democratic challenger Craig Alperowitz.
Chester Borough
Two incumbents are running to stay on the all-Republican borough council. No Democrats are filed, so Chris Heil and Kyle Holman will not be challenged for re-election.
Chester Township
Mayor Timothy Drag is running for re-election with no opposition in the GOP primary and no Democrats declared. Incumbent Republican council members John Butkus and Tim Russell enjoy a similarly clear path to re-election.
Dover
Four seats are open on the town council, one in each of four wards in one of the few Morris County towns controlled by Democrats. Two seats will be contested. Dennis Touhey is challenging Ward 4 incumbent Marcos Tapia. Touhey ran for mayor as an independent last year and lost to James Dodd. Leslie Puente is challenging incumbent Sandra Wittner in Ward 1.
East Hanover
Council President Carolyn Jandoli is the only office holder up for re-election and is unopposed in the GOP primary, with no Democrat declared. Jandoli was part of the formerly all-Democratic council that switched to the Republican party last year along with Mayor Joseph Pannullo.
Florham Park
Joshua Marchal and Scott Carpenter are running for re-election and unopposed on the Republican side. Only one Democrat, John Upton, has declared for the two seats open in the primary
Hanover
John Ferramosca is the lone incumbent committee member up for re-election. He is unopposed in the GOP primary with no Democrats declared, clearing his path in the November general election.
Harding
The committee seats of Mayor Timothy Jones and Deputy Mayor Nicole Lacz are up this year. Both are unopposed in the Republican primary with Democrats fielding no opposition.
Jefferson
Three seats are open on the all-Republican council this year, with current Council President Jay Dunham choosing not to seek re-election. Incumbents H. Ronald Smith and Robert Birmingham are seeking new terms, however. Republicans Barbara "Barbie" Garruto and Daniel Schultz are also declared, making for one of the county's few competitive primary races with four candidates for three seats. The winners will face off in November against Democrats Janice Bakera, Anne Augustyn and Elizabeth McMahon, who will pass through their primary.
Kinnelon
Kinnelon will have a competitive primary as well with three Republican candidates declared for two open seats on the all-GOP council. Incumbent Vincent Russo is running but William Yago is not. Ronald Reckler and Robert Lewis are hoping to replace him. No Democrats are declared.
Lincoln Park
Change is in store at Town Hall with one seat open on the council in each of four wards. Republican incumbents in Wards 1 and 2 are unopposed in the primary with no Democratic opposition declared. In Ward 3, Patrick Antonetti, the only Democrat on the body, also is unopposed in the primary, but will face opposition from Republican Katherine Zuercher in the November general election. In Ward 4, Republican incumbent Joseph Gurkovich is not running for re-election and no Republican is running to replace him, clearing the way for Democrat Lisa Walker to alter the balance of power in the borough.
Long Hill
Mayor Guy Piserchia is running to retain his spot in a race with two open committee seats. Two other challengers are on the GOP primary ballot: Joe Ferrandino and Aubrey Reichard-Eline. No Democrats are declared for the primary in the Republican-controlled town, where incumbent Brendan Rae is not seeking another term.
Madison
Eric P. Range and Melissa A. Honohan are running to retain their council seats with no competition in the Democratic primary. No Republicans are declared.
Mendham
Four Republicans are competing for two seats, including incumbents Steven Andrew and Brennan Reilly. Two Democrats will pass through the primary with no competition, setting up a race in November. Notably, Serrano Glassner's term does not expire until 2026. She is currently entered in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey
Mendham Township
Two Republican incumbent committee members are running for re-election: Nick Monoghan and Mayor Sarah Neibart. Two declared Democrats, Susan Luciano and Mark Trokan, will also pass through the primary.
Montville
Committeeman Frank Cooney is running unopposed for re-election in the Republican primary. His November challenger will be John Harmon, who is uncontested on the Democratic side.
Morris Plains
Republican Cathie Kelly is running to retain her council seat. Dennis Wagner is not, so Adam Tyburski has stepped up to fill the void on the GOP side. Democrats Bill Houston and Tyler Pontier will complete the November ballot with no primary opposition.
Morris Township
Current Mayor Donna J. Guariglia and former Mayor Mark Gyorfy are unopposed in the Democratic primary. No Republicans are declared so the township committee will remain unchanged in 2025.
Mountain Lakes
Four borough council seats currently held by Democrats expire this year. Incumbents Lauren Barnett and Khizar Sheikh are back on the ballot, joined by partymates Joshua Howley and Angela Tsai. One Republican, Lucas Stelli, ia also running, hoping that come November he can break the Democratic logjam in a formerly Republican town. Two more current council members, Democrat Cynthia Korman and lone council Republican Chris Richter aren't seeking re-election.
Mount Arlington
Incumbent Republicans Dave BaRoss and Nita Galate have no competition in the primary. No Democrats are declared.
Netcong
Joseph Albensi and Todd Morton are unopposed in the Republican primary to retain their council seats. No Democrats are running.
Pequannock
There will be competition for two council seats in the Republican primary. Incumbents Ryan Herd, serving as mayor this year, and David Kohle are on the ballot with Vincent Siracusa. Michael Mancuso is the only Democrat declared.
Randolph
The council seats of Mayor Christine Carey and Deputy Mayor Joseph Hathaway are up this year and both are declared in the GOP primary along with Joseph Hathaway. Three Democrats also are running, making Randolph the only town in Morris County with competitive local primaries on both sides.
Riverdale
Incumbent Republican council members Dave Desai and Matthew Oswald are unopposed in the primary with no Democrats on the ballot either.
Rockaway Borough
The borough's GOP primary will be contested with incumbents Thomas Haynes III and James Hurley joined by Angelo Natale. No Democrats are seeking nominations.
Victory Gardens
David Holman is the only publicly-elected mayor up for re-election this year. He has no competition in the Democratic primary and no Republicans are declared. Democratic council members Kendyll Hedgepath and Ondria Garcia-Montes are also seeking re-election with no opposition.
Washington
Committee member Bill Roehrich is running along with fellow Republican Walter Curioni. John Holt is the only Democrat on the ballot. Incumbent Kenneth Short is not seeking another term.
Wharton
Nicole Wickenheisser and Thomas Yeager are unopposed in the Republican primary to retain their council seats, with no Democrats seeking nominations.
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: NJ primary election 2024: Key Morris County races to watch
