HUDSON COUNTY — In what proposes to be the greatest number of freeholder seats challenged in a Democratic primary race in recent memory, voters will be asked to choose between candidates for six of the nine freeholder each this June. Once a Democrat is chosen to run, that person will face a Republican in November.
Freeholders Doreen DiDomenico in District 1, which includes all of Bayonne and a small portion of Jersey City, and Thomas Liggio in District 8, which includes all of North Bergen and a portion of Secaucus, have decided not to seek reelection.
In District 1, Kenneth Kopacz, who has the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, will be challenged by Rafael Augusto to fill the seat vacated by DiDomenico.
To fill Liggio’s vacated seat, HCDO-supported Anthony Vainieri Jr. is being challenged by Enrique Henry Marrero, one of whom will face off against Republican Francis Bruno in November.
In Jersey City, Freeholders Bill O’Dea (District 2) and E. Junior Maldonado (District 4) are running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Freeholder Jeffrey Dublin (District 3) in Jersey City is fending off a challenge by Gerard Balmir – who has support of the HCDO, Esmeralda Trinidad (of Women for Jersey City), and Arnold B. Williams.
Freeholder Anthony Romano in District 6 – which covers all of Hoboken and a portion of Jersey City — is fending off a primary challenge from Philip Cohen, who has support of the HCDO, and Adela Rohena Santiago.
Freeholder Tilo E. Rivas in District 6 – which represents Union City – is being challenged by Jose G. Falto
Freeholder Jose Munoz of District 7, which represents West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg, is being challenged by Caridad Rodriquez, who is supported by the HCDO.
Freeholder Albert Cifelli in District 9, which represents a portion of Secaucus and several towns in West Hudson, is running unchallenged.
Primary battles in six freeholder districts
