Aschenbach, Hannen, Kalnins and Adubato Nesi Secure Township Committee Nominations

Tuesday's election saw a very low voter turnout, with just 6.1 percent of Cranford residents showing up at the polls. Nevertheless, both candidates of each party secured nominations for Township Committee.

According to the Township's unofficial results, Democratic Mayor Dan Aschenbach received the most votes of the four nominees with 548. Running mate Thomas H. Hannen Jr., in his first bid for Township Committee, received 543 votes. On the Republican side, newcomer Lisa Adubato Nesi and Zoning Board of Adjustment member Andis Kalnins tied with 275 votes. Adubato Nesi and Kalnins beat out Aschenbach and Hannen in the 6th, 10th, and 25th districts. The 24th district had the highest percentage of voter turnout with eleven percent.

Aschenbach and Hannen received the most votes from Cranford residents of all primary candidates. Democratic Assembly candidate Bruce H. Bergen of Springfield had the third most votes with 536. Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr. received the most votes on the Republican side with 288, followed closely by Assembly candidates Jon Bramnick of Westfield and Nancy F. Munoz of Summit. 

In the County Freeholder race, incumbents Angel Estrada of Elizabeth and Chris Hudak of Linden, along with establishment backed newcomer Vernell Wright of Union Township easily defeated the insurgent slate of Elizabeth Board of Education member Elcy Castillo-Ospina and Elizabeth public school employees Erna Letemps and Marliene Abitanto for the three freeholder nominations. The freeholder contest served as the undercard battle in a Democratic primary highlighted by a contest for state legislative seats in the Elizabeth area.

Democratic Freeholder Primary Results (Countywide)

Obtained from the website of the Union County Clerk. The results are currently unofficial.

The insurgent slate was part of the Democrats for Change ticket, which challenged Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano in a district encompassing Elizabeth, Roselle, Union Township and Hillside. Results from the county clerk’s office showed Lesniak, Cryan and Quijano fending off challenges Jerome Dunn, Carlos Cedeno and Tony Monteiro respectively. The freeholder candidates ran as part of the slate in order to provide ballot placement to the legislative candidates.

Estrada, Hudak and Wright will face off against Republican nominees Andy Smith of Summit and Edwin Ortiz of Elizabeth in the November election. Republicans did not nominate a third candidate for the third seat on the board during April’s county convention. According to the county clerk’s website, 68 write-in votes were cast in the Republican primary for freeholder this year, leaving the possibility that a third candidate could emerge when the write-in results are tabulated.

John Celock contributed to reporting.