Voter Guide For The Caldwells: Council, Legislature Candidates

CALDWELLS, NJ — The race between Gov. Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli will be among the top reasons that residents of Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell head to the polls on Nov. 2. But local voters will also grapple with several other choices in the 2021 general election.

>> Sign up for local election updates from the Caldwells Patch

Polls will be open in New Jersey on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last day to register to vote was Oct. 12. Applications for vote-by-mail ballots were due Oct. 26. Learn more or see local polling places here.

Early in-person voting in New Jersey is taking place for the first time in state history from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31. People who participate in early voting won't be allowed to send a mail-in ballot or vote in-person on Election Day. You can find the early voting locations in Essex County here.

The Essex County Clerk’s Office has released a guide to voting in the general election, which includes locations of ballot drop boxes. See it here.

Here are some of the choices voters in the Caldwells will face this election.

LOCAL

In addition to local school board races, voters will elect town council members in Caldwell, North Caldwell and West Caldwell. Here's who is on the ballot in each municipality.

Caldwell Borough Council (vote for two, three-year term)

• Francis X. Rodgers III (Democrat)
• Christine Schmidt (Democrat)
• Barbara Z. Buechner (Republican)
• Rick Alonso (Republican)

North Caldwell Borough Council (vote for two, three-year term)

• Francis X. Astorino (Republican)
• Robert C. Kessler Jr. (Republican)
• No Democratic Party nominees

West Caldwell Township Council (vote for two, three-year term)

• Jessica Almeida (Democrat)
• Christy Lazarow (Democrat)
• Stanley W. Hladik (Republican)
• Michael Crudele (Republican)

COUNTY

Voters in Essex County, including the Caldwells, will pick a county sheriff for a three-year term.

Democratic incumbent Armando Fontoura, the longest-serving sheriff in county history, successfully fended off a challenge from John Arnold Jr. and Barry Jackson in the June primary election.

Fontoura will face off against Nicholas Pansini, who earned the Republican nod.

STATE

Incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy (Democrat) is up against challenges from Jack Ciattarelli (Republican), Madelyn Hoffman (Green Party), Gregg Mele (Libertarian Party) and Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party). Read More: NJ Governor Candidates: Why You Should Elect Me (In 500 Words)

Caldwell voters will get to cast ballots for the following seats in the state Legislature:

Senate, 27th District (vote for one)

• Richard J. Codey (Democrat)
• Adam Kraemer (Republican)

Assembly, 27th District (vote for two)

• John F. McKeon (Democrat)
• Mila M. Jasey (Democrat)
• Jonathan Sym (Republican)
• Kevin Ryan (Republican)

North Caldwell voters will get to cast ballots for the following seats in the state Legislature:

Senate, 26th District (vote for one)

• Christine Clarke (Democrat)
• Joe Pennacchio (Republican)

Assembly, 26th District (vote for two)

• Melissa Brown Blaeuer (Democrat)
• Pamela Fadden (Democrat)
• Jay Webber (Republican)
• Christian E. Barranco (Republican)

West Caldwell voters will get to cast ballots for the following seats in the state Legislature:

Senate, 26th District (vote for one)

• Christine Clarke (Democrat)
• Joe Pennacchio (Republican)

Assembly, 26th District (vote for two)

• Melissa Brown Blaeuer (Democrat)
• Pamela Fadden (Democrat)
• Jay Webber (Republican)
• Christian E. Barranco (Republican)

Send correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Caldwells Facebook page.