Few surprises in Tuesday’s primary elections: Sheriff, Secaucus, Congress

HUDSON COUNTY — There were few surprises in Tuesday night’s primary elections in Hudson County, with many of the countywide and region-wide candidates running unopposed to grab the Democratic or Republican nomination. Now the winning nominees will face off in November. In Hudson County, the Democrats usually win, so the race is sometimes more heated to grab the Democratic nomination than to beat a Republican opponent in November.
The incumbents won handily in most of the races.
U.S. Rep Albio Sires, a Democrat who was once mayor of West New York, won the primary to run for re-election to the 13th Congressional District in November. He earned 10, 567 votes. But surprisingly, Guttenberg candidate Jeff Boss, who has run in several local elections, earned 1,961 votes in his bid for the nomination.
For Hudson County Sheriff, Frank Schillari, backed by the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization, garnered 14,201 votes to get the Democratic nod. He ran unopposed for the nomination.
However, Schillari will face the Republican nominee, incumbent sheriff Juan Perez in November. Perez actually was a Democrat until he recently failed to get the HCDO’s backing, then decided to run as a Republican for the nomination so as not to face Schillari. Perez earned 2,290 votes as a Republican, and challenger Christian Araujo amassed 972. Thus, Perez is the Republican nominee and will face Schillari for the job in November.
Two Guttenberg candidates ran for council-at-large unopposed. Alfonso Caso and Donna Florio won the Democratic nominations, and are unlikely to face anyone in November.
In a more exciting race, Secaucus candidates ran for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Ward council seats. The Democratic winners will now go on to face a slate of three Independent council members backed by Mayor Michael Gonnelli in November. Gonnelli’s candidates officially filed last Friday.
The winning Democratic nominees in Secaucus are Robert Zych, Nancy Mateo, and Mark Bruschino. Bruschino, the 3rd Ward candidate, had faced a Democratic challenge from young Board of Education member Michael Makarski, but beat him out by a vote of 286 to 238. Like they say, every vote counts.
For complete results of these races, click here.