Political Surprise: Livingston Councilwoman Likely To Run For Assembly

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston Councilwoman Dr. Rosaura "Rosy" Bagolie may be the choice of the Essex County Democratic Committee to run for state Assembly on Nov. 7, the New Jersey Globe reported on Friday.

Voters in the 27th Legislative District will be choosing two candidates for two seats on the state Assembly, as well as one candidate for state Senate.

Bagolie would be joining County Commissioner Brendan Gill from Montclair on the two-person Democratic ticket for Assembly, after several changes were made last week in response to State Sen. Richard Codey's retirement announcement.

But the switches aroused the ire of some who felt that they were made without consideration for the voting public.

As NJ Spotlight wrote, "Democratic primary voters in the 27th District elected a slate of candidates to run for legislative seats — incumbent Richard Codey for Senate, incumbent John McKeon for Assembly partnered with newcomer Alixon Collazos-Gill. After Codey decided to resign, the Democratic machine reshuffled the ballot."

Current Assemblyman McKeon from West Orange will now run for Codey's seat.

The 27th District includes Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland and West Orange in Essex County, and Clifton in Passaic County.

Bagolie, who has also served as schools superintendent and principal in East Newark, was elected to Livingston's council last year. You can read her thoughts on everything from national politics to Judy Blume books in her Q&A with Livingston Patch last year, linked here.

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