Essex County's Democrat incumbent freeholders are running for re-election Tuesday — and the four are expected to win handily in the blue-dominated county. Among this year's freeholder-at-large candidates are Donald Payne Jr., Rufus Johnson, Patricia Sebold and Blonnie Watson.

• Payne, of Newark, was elected as a freeholder-at-large in November 2005 and re-elected in 2008. He also is president of Newark City Council. Payne founded, and is the former president of the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats, and served as president of the South Ward Young Democrats. He attended Kean College and served as an advisor to the YMCA Youth in Government program. He is a member of the Newark Watershed Board and a Board member for Preserve Our Legacy, Inc., whose mission is to increase awareness and education of the minority community about the benefits of adult stem cells.
• Johnson, of Newark, was elected to his first term as a freeholder-at-large in November 2008. He is chief of staff for State Senator Ronald L. Rice (D-Essex) since 1998, having previously served as his aide during Rice's 16-year tenure on Newark City Council. He was a co-founder and coach of both the Newark Optimist Club Little League and Newark Pop Warner Football League and also coached the Our Lady of Good Counsel High School basketball team. He was president of the Newark West Ward Young Democrats and has served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity.
• Sebold, of Livingston, was elected in November 1993 as a freeholder-at-large. She was re-elected as in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. She served as as freeholder vice president in 1996 and from 2003 to 2006. Sebold taught English as West Orange High School from 1970 until her retirement in 2001; served on the Essex County Vocational Schools Board of Education, as a commissioner on the Essex County Board of Elections, and has been chairperson of the Livingston Democratic Municipal Committee since 1976. She is a member of the League of Women Voters, the Sierra Club, NOW and the Boards of Trustees of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest and the Jewish Community Housing Corporation.

Sebold had this to say about her candidacy,"One of the most fulfilling accomplishments I have encountered as a freeholder is improving the quality of life for all the residents of Essex County.  My participation in the formation of the Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board and my participation as the freeholder representative has been profoundly rewarding. Grant funding has been administered throughout the park system and open space in all of Essex County to create, improve, update, and enhance our every day living.  I hope to continue to work hard for all the residents of Essex County for the future.  More jobs, better taxes , safe and secure living, and excellent open space will affect all of us."

• Watson, of Newark, is the current freeholder president. She was elected to her first term as a freeholder-at-large in 1996, and was re-elected in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. She served as freeholder vice president for five consecutive years from 1998 to 2002, and currently is serving as board president for the fifth consecutive year. She is president of the High Park Gardens Cooperative Corporation in Newark; president and founding member of the New Jersey Federation of Housing Cooperatives; and a former Board member of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives.

Polls for the general election close at 8 p.m. Find a polling place by clicking here.

— Compiled by Patch staff