For all the marbles

Runoffs on Tuesday to decide five city races

This time there is no tomorrow.

Several months of campaigning will come to an end on Tuesday, June 10, as the municipal election runoffs will settle five of the six races originally contested on May 13.

The posts of mayor and council members in Second Ward, Third Ward, and two at-large spots will be decided.

Because neither Mayor Mark Smith nor challenger Police Capt. James Davis could garner 50 percent plus one vote in the first go-around, they will now go head to head, without candidate Anthony Zanowic, in their quest for the mayoralty. Zanowic’s winning of four percent of the vote caused the mayor’s race to be decided by a runoff. Zanowic has since endorsed Smith.

In the Second Ward, Councilman Joseph Hurley of Smith’s Moving Bayonne Forward team and Salvatore Gullace of Davis’s Moving Bayonne in the Right Direction will clash again.

The Third Ward will feature Councilman Ray Greaves (Smith) against Gary La Pelusa (Davis).  

The at-large runoff, where two positions are available, will pit Council President Terrence Ruane and Councilwoman Debra Czerwienski (both Smith) against Juan Perez and Sharon Nadrowski (both Davis).

The only race won on May 13 was in the First Ward, where Thomas Cotter (Davis) defeated Councilwoman Agnes Gillespie (Smith). He will take over the seat on July 1.

Davis (on May 28 at the Knights of Columbus) and Smith (on May 29 at The Chandelier) both held campaign events last week.

More endorsements

Additional endorsements last week included those of former Zanowic running mates, Daniel Herrera (First Ward) and Chelsea Jeskie (Second Ward), for Smith.

The first Zanowic candidate to endorse anyone, Leonard Kantor, had already thrown his support behind Davis.

Additional information

The ballot positions for mayor were decided on May 21. Smith will be at 1A; Davis at 2A.

 

Polls will be open Tuesday, June 10 from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

 

Joseph Passantino may be reached at: JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.

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