BAYONNE – Democrat Kenneth Kopacz easily defeated independent Michael Alonso for the District 1 freeholder seat – by as much as four-to-one margin – according to unofficial tabulations by Kopacz’s campaign.
Less than an hour after the polls closed, the city educator’s staff had listed vote totals of 6,768 for Kopacz and 1,777 for Alonso.
District 1 encompasses all of Bayonne and a portion of Jersey City.
Kopacz attributed his victory to avoiding personal attacks and sticking to the issues.
“I ran a positive and clean campaign,” he said. “I want to thank the residents of District 1, both in Bayonne and Jersey City, for putting their trust and faith in me.”
Come Jan. 1, Kopacz will fill the seat currently held by Freeholder Doreen DiDomenico, who is retiring from politics because of professional obligations. DiDomenico was pleased with the night’s balloting.
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “I’m very happy about who will take over.”
Kopacz thanked family, friends, and party faithful for his victory. He promised that District 1 “will have a voice in county government.”
Kopacz had won the June 3 Democratic primary, besting Rafael Augusto for the party nod. Kopacz ran on the Hudson County Democratic Organization line.