Today, November 8, is Election Day across the country. In South Orange, voters are faced with a choice of who will be their representatives in the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly. In addition, on the county level, voters will decide their Surrogate and Freeholders. On the municipal level, voters will be asked to weigh in on three non-binding referendums regarding the town charter.
South Orange residents can find their polling place by clicking here. Voter registration can be checked here. For more information, contact the Village Clerk’s Office at clerk@southorange.org or call (973) 378-7715 x7724.
Patch has compiled some information on each candidate and issue to help the voters decide who and what best represents them.
South Orange is in New Jersey District 27, whose composition has shifted after recent redistricting that removed areas with majority Democratic registration, such as Newark and Orange, and added towns with greater Republican registration, such as Chatham. Towns now in the 27th District include: Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Livingston, Madison, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange, and West Orange.
In the State Senate race, Incumbent Democratic Senator Richard J. Codey faces off against Republican William H. Eames. Codey, a former New Jersey Governor, has received numerous endorsements from Republican leaders, while Eames is generating interest as a Tea Party candidate.
In the State Assembly, Democratic incumbents John McKeon and Mila M. Jasey will compete with Republican challengers Nicole Hagner and Lee Holtzman to see who will represent District 27. The candidates squared off in a debate in Livingston in October.
In the race for Essex County Surrogate, Democrat Theodore N. Stephens, II faces off with Republican Annette Scoca-DeImauro. The Essex County Surrogate’s Office is responsible for the probate of wills, the processing of adoptions and estate matters and the appointments of administrators, trustees and guardians. Stephens is a former Orange Municipal Court Judge while Scoca-DeImauro is a former Essex County Public Defender.
Essex County's Democrat incumbent freeholders are running for re-election Tuesday. They consist of Donald Payne Jr., Rufus Johnson, Patricia Sebold and Blonnie Watson. They are opposed by Republicans challengers James Boydston, Reuben Torres, Peter Campisi and Adam Kraemer. Also in the race is Independent Marilynn English. She represents the “We The People” party.
Democratic Incumbent Carol Y. Clark is running unopposed in the race for a spot on the Board of Chosen Freeholders for the 3rd District.
South Orange voters will also be asked four non-binding referendum questions, three municipal and one statewide. "Non-binding" means voters are just giving their two cents. The measure doesn't have the force of law, though it could spur legislators to act.
The three municipal questions are:
Question 1:
Should the Village Charter be amended to change the name of our municipality from the ‘Township of South Orange Village’ to ‘South Orange Village’?
Interpretive Statement: The name was previously changed to include “Township” to bring eligibility for certain federal assistance. Eligibility no longer depends on the township designation. A “yes” vote indicates a preference to simplify the name to “South Orange Village.”
Question 2:
Should the Village Charter be amended to change the title of the ‘Village President’ to ‘Mayor,’ the title of the ‘Board of Trustees’ to ‘Village Council,’ and the title of ‘Trustee’ to ‘Councilmember’?
Interpretive Statement: Unlike most other municipalities, this municipality’s chief executive is called the “Village President” and the governing body is called the “Board of Trustees”, its members called “Trustees”.
Question 3:
Should the Village Charter be amended to provide the Village President an annual stipend of $2,400, without other benefits, and provide Village Trustees an annual stipend of $1,800 each, without other benefits?
Interpretive Statement: Currently the Village President and Trustees receive no salary, other compensation, or benefits. A “yes” vote would provide the Village President an annual stipend of $2,400, and Trustees $1,800 each. None would receive additional benefits.
The statewide question is:
Shall the amendment to Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, agreed to by the Legislature, providing that it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law wagering at casinos or gambling houses in Atlantic City and at current or former running and harness horse racetracks on the results of professional, certain college, or amateur sport or athletic events, be approved?
Interpretive Statement: A “Yes” vote on this question would allow the Legislature, when permitted by federal law, to legalize the placing of bets on certain sports events at casinos, racetracks, and former racetrack sites. Currently, federal law only permits this type of betting in Nevada and Delaware. It also occurs through illegal betting operations. If legalized in New Jersey, bets could be placed on professional, college, or amateur sports or athletic events, except that bets could not be placed on any college sports or athletic event that takes place in New Jersey or in which a New Jersey college team is playing.
Township of South Orange Village Polling Locations.
District 1 Fr. Vincent Monella Center of Italian Culture, 133 Fairview Avenue
District 2 Marshall School, 262 Grove Road
District 3 South Orange Middle School, 70 N. Ridgewood Road
District 4 Our Lady of Sorrows (lower level), Fourth Street
District 6 Baird Community Center, 5 Mead Street
District 7 South Mountain Annex, 112 Glenview Road
District 8 Baird Community Center, 5 Mead Street
District 9 First Presbyterian and Trinity Church, 111 Irvington Avenue.
District 10 Marshall School, 262 Grove Road
District 11 First Presbyterian and Trinity Church, 111 Irvington Avenue.
District 12 Seton Hall University (Walsh Gymnasium), 400 South Orange Avenue
District 13 South Orange Middle School, 70 N. Ridgewood Road
