HUDSON COUNTY – Voters in Hudson County will head to the polls today (Tuesday) to elect state and county representatives, as well as two City Council members in Jersey City. In Hoboken, voters have the opportunity to vote on a referendum regarding changes to the city’s controversial rent control law. Polls are open until 8 p.m.
The positions up for grabs in Hudson County are county executive, county register, three state Senate seats, all six state Assembly seats, and all nine Board of Freeholder seats. Only two of the freeholders face competition this year.
Each state legislative district has one state senator and two Assembly people.
For the county executive race, incumbent Thomas DeGise, a Democrat, will face off against Republican Stephen DeLuca for a four-year term as county executive.
The two contested freeholder races are:
Incumbent Democrat Anthony Romano is being challenged by Independent Kurt Gardiner for the District 5 freeholder seat. District 5 encompasses all of Hoboken and a portion of Jersey City Heights.
For the District 9 freeholder seat, incumbent Albert Cifelli is being challenged by Republican Paul H. Castelli. Both men are residents of Kearny. District 9 includes Kearny, Harrison, East Newark, and a portion of Secaucus.
Assembly and State Senate seats
In the 31st District, which includes all of Bayonne and half of Jersey City, state Sen. Sandra Bolden Cunningham is being challenged by Republican Donnamaire James and independent Louis Venotico. For the Assembly, Democratic incumbents Charles Mainor and Jason O’Donnell are challenged by Republicans Michael Alonso and Daniel Beckelman.
In the 32nd District, Democratic state Sen. Nicholas J. Sacco is being challenged by Republican Edward T. O’Neil, and independent Herbert H. Shaw. Incumbent Assemblyman Vincent Prieto and Angelica Jimenez are representing the Democrats in the Assembly race, while Michael Bartulovich and Ronald Tarolla are challenging as Republicans. The 32nd district includes parts of North Bergen, Jersey City and Secaucus, among other Bergen and Hudson county towns.
In the 33rd District, Democratic state Sen. Brian Stack is being challenged by Republican Beth Hamburger. Democratic Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. is running for reelection with running mate Sean Connors. They are opposed by Republicans Christopher Garcia and Fernando Uribe.
The 33rd includes Hoboken, Weehawken, part of Jersey City, and Union City.
To read about the county and state office elections, click HERE.
Jersey City council candidates
The following candidates are running for two open City Council-at-large seats in Jersey City: Adela Rohena, Jamie Vasquez, Nabil Yousef, Richard Boggiano, Daniel Levin, Suzanne “Sue” Mack, Ihor Ed Ciolko, Omar Perez, Rolando Lavarro, Imtiaz Sayed, Brian Lane, Juanita Lopez, Councilwoman Kalimah Ahmad, Councilman Radames “Ray” Velazquez, Viola Richardson, Melissa Alexander Clark, and Patrick Leonard.
Questions on the ballot
Voters statewide will also be asked to decide whether or not they want to see gambling on sports in New Jersey at casinos and racetracks.
However, the results of the vote will not automatically decide the fate of sports gambling in the state. In order for sports gambling to be allowed in New Jersey, a federal law would also have to be overturned. Betting would not be allowed on games that take place in New Jersey, or on games that feature college teams from New Jersey.
In Hoboken, voters will be asked to decide on changes to the city’s rent control law in a referendum. Click HERE to read an article about the changes. To keep the changes, vote no. To repeal the changes, vote yes.Keep reading HudsonReporter.com for continued coverage of Election Day 2011. – Ray Smith