Election season is upon us and area residents are seeking local, county and state offices Nov. 2.
State
Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, a Democrat from Northfield representing Atlantic County, is seeking the state Senate seat vacated by Republican Chris Brown. He is joined by County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick of Linwood, who is seeking an Assembly seat, and incumbent Assemblyman John Armato.
They face a challenge from Egg Harbor Township resident Vince Polistina for Senate and Don Guardian and Claire Swift for Assembly in New Jersey’s Second Legislative District. Polistina previously served in the Assembly from 2008-12. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Atlantic County Republican Campaign Committee and as chairman of the Atlantic County Republican Finance Committee.
Guardian is a former mayor of Atlantic City and Swift is a former deputy attorney general.
Atlantic County
Atlantic County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Maureen Kern of Somers Point faces a challenge from Jelani Gandy of Linwood.
Kern served seven years on Somers Point City Council, including as council president, before being elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2015. She was re-elected in 2018 and became the first woman to chair the board in its 182-year history in 2019.
Gandy, a lifelong Linwood resident who earned a political science degree, was elected in 2018 to serve as the Founding Father President of the Phi Delta Theta Chapter of Stockton University, an organization that promotes philanthropy. He later was elected to the Student Senate in 2018 and served on the Student Affairs Committee.
In 2019, he worked as an intern in Mazzeo and Armato’s legislative office. The following year, he joined Amy Kennedy’s campaign for Congress. He currently serves as the New Jersey State Director of the United Rural Democrats, a coalition dedicated to raising awareness about various issues facing rural communities nationwide.
NORTHFIELD
Five people are seeking three seats on Northfield City Council, where Republicans are trying to increase their 4-3 majority on the seven-member body.
Ward II Councilwoman Barbara Madden, a Democrat seeking a second term, is facing a challenge from newcomer Carolyn Bucci.
Madden is a registered nurse who worked as a supervisor at the Vineland Developmental Center. In 2000, she started working with the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
During her time on council, she has advocated for creating a dog park at Birch Grove Park, keeping the Otto Bruyns Public Library of Northfield independent and allowing marijuana businesses in the city as a way of generating revenue.
Bucci has been a resident of Northfield for 24 years. She has worked as a claims adjuster since 1986, currently employed by AmTrust North America. She earned a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing from LaSalle University.
Bucci has been active in the area as a volunteer, serving on the board of the Mainland United Soccer Association and Little League as well as coaching soccer and basketball.
She currently is member of the board for the Otto Bruyns Public Library.
Councilman Frank Perri, a Democrat serving at-large, is once again facing a challenge from Ward II Councilman Greg Dewees.
Perri has served on City Council for more than 25 years. He first was elected in 1990 and then served three terms as mayor beginning in 1996. He took two years off from 2008 to 2010 and has been back since then.
Perri has been a leading advocate of permitting marijuana business to operate in the city.
Dewees last won re-election in 2019, defeating newcomer Christine Camp-Taggart. He was first elected to City Council in 2010, winning re-election in 2013 and 2016. In 2017, Dewees tried to unseat Perri, losing 1,364 to 958. Dewees kept his ward seat, having risked nothing in the attempt.
Ward I Councilman Brian Smith is running unopposed for re-election. He first served on council from 2008-11 before being re-elected in 2018.
Smith has been unequivocal in his opposition to the city allowing marijuana businesses, despite acknowledging that nearly two-thirds of voters citywide and statewide approved a state ballot initiative permitting adult use of cannabis products and a statewide marketplace for its sale.
SOMERS POINT
Somers Point City Council President Janice Johnston, a Republican who represents Ward I, is facing a challenge from Elizabeth “Lisa” Bender.
Johnston was appointed to a Ward I seat in July 2019 after former councilman Ron Meischker resigned from the position, saying he was moving out of the city. She was elected that November to the remainder of the term.
Johnston previously served on the Somers Point Zoning Board, the Somers Point Economic Development Advisory Commission and the Mainland Regional High School Board of Education.
Bender is a small-business owner and active volunteer. Bender’s AmeriCorps service led to professional positions as Atlantic County recycling coordinator, grant writer and project lead, municipal environmental specialist and sustainability/marketing consultant, according to information she provided.
Bender has served as chairwoman of the Somers Point Green Advisory Committee since 2014 and Environmental Commission since 2015.
Longtime Ward II Councilman Howard Dill is running unopposed. Dill last won re-election, also unopposed, in 2018. He has served on City Council since winning his first election in 2009.
LINWOOD
A new member will join Linwood City Council this year, and not because she got more votes than her opponent. Blair Albright is running unopposed to fill the seat of Ward II Councilman Todd Gordon, who decided not to seek re-election after serving since January 2012.
No council seats are contested in the November election.
At-large Councilman Matthew Levinson is seeking his first full term. He was appointed to City Council in 2019 to fill the unexpired term of at-large councilman Darren Matik, who was elected mayor without opposition. Last year he ran unopposed for the final year of that term.
In Ward I, June Byrnes is seeking re-election unopposed to a second term. Additionally, Ward II Councilman Todd Michael, who was appointed March 19 to replace Brian Heun, is running for a one-year unexpired term.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff