City councils will have new members for 2021
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
City councils in both Northfield and Somers Point will be getting new or returning members following the Nov. 3 elections, while local incumbents for both freeholder and sheriff face challenges.
In Northfield, five candidates are running for two seats after incumbents Jim O’Neill and Susan Korngut chose not to run for re-election. O’Neill, a Republican, served three terms on City Council, while Korngut, a Democrat, served one. She helped her party take control of the governing body when Paul Utts was elected in 2019. That control now hangs in the balance of this election, with two Democrats, two Republicans and one independent running.
In Ward 1, Democrat Lisa Lehne-Gilmore, Republican David Notaro and independent Alicia Garry are seeking to replace Korngut.
Notaro previously served one term from 2005-07 as a Democrat, then lost to current councilman Brian Smith in 2007.
In Ward 2, Democrat Rich DiCriscio and Republican Tom Polistina are seeking the seat vacated by O’Neill. Polistina previously served on City Council from 2011-13.
Somers Point
Six candidates are seeking three seats in Somers Point. While some have served on city boards and run for office in the past, none has served in elected office.
Democrat Levi Fox and Republican Joseph T. McCarrie Jr. are seeking the at-large seat now held by Carl D’Adamo, who was the lone Democrat on the governing body and served for 16 years. He chose to seek re-election.
In Ward 1, Democrat Dan Myers, who ran unsuccessfully last year against current councilwoman Janice Johnston, and Republican Stacy Ferreri are vying for the seat vacated by Kirk Gerety. Gerety first served on City Council when he was appointed in 1995 to an at-large seat, then won re-election in 1996, 2000 and 2004 before resigning his seat at the end of 2005. He then defeated Ralph Triboletti in the 2014 election and Genevieve DeVito in 2017.
Democrat Karen Bruno and Republican James Osler, both newcomers, will face off for the Ward 2 seat held by James Toto, who is running for a seat on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Toto was picked to fill the Ward II seat vacated by Councilwoman Maureen Kern in January 2016 after Kern was elected to the freeholder board. He then defeated former mayor John DiMaria in 2017.
Linwood
Three incumbents are running unopposed in Linwood, as is usually the case.
Matthew Levinson was appointed to City Council in 2019 to fill the unexpired term of at-large councilman Darren Matik, who was elected mayor without opposition. He now is running unopposed for the final year of that term.
Councilman Eric Ford was appointed to City Council in June 2016 to fill an unexpired term in Ward 1 and won a full three-year term in 2017. He now is seeking his second full term without opposition.
In Ward 2, City Council President Ralph Paolone is running unopposed for his sixth consecutive term.
Sheriff, freeholder
At the county level, Sheriff Eric Scheffler, a Democrat from Northfield, is seeking his second term. He is facing a challenge from Egg Harbor Township Republican Joseph A. O’Donoghue.
Freeholder-at-Large Caren Fitzpatrick, a Democratic from Linwood, is facing a challenge from Somers Point’s Toto.
