Engel Wins Primary Election For Maplewood Committee Seat

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Deborah Engel is now the Democratic nominee to run for an open seat on the Maplewood Township Committee on Nov. 8, after she amassed hundreds more votes than her opponent in the primary Tuesday night.

Engel and Kurt Kiley both filed to run for the Democratic nomination for the seat on the five-member Township Committee. In an unusual move, the local Democratic Committee endorsed both candidates and left the decision up to Democratic voters.

No Republicans have filed to run for the seat.

On Wednesday, Kiley wrote on Facebook:

Engel replied, "Thank you, Kurt, and I look forward to continuing to work together in the future. I enjoyed discussing the issues with you and am happy we gave the residents of Maplewood a choice this year. I think you and I both agree that political competition is good, to put the power in the hands of the people, where it should always reside."

In a press release, Engel said, "I am so thankful to the people of Maplewood for having the faith in me to lead our great town. I am thrilled to be on the ballot next to Congressman Mikie Sherrill in November and look forward to bringing out the Democratic vote for us moms and women with vision! I also look forward to being on the ballot with Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., who served Essex County so well during the pandemic.”

(You can read Engel's candidate profile here.)

Engel's spokesperson said that no Independents have filed to run against her in November.

In Maplewood's form of government, each year, the five members of Maplewood's committee choose a mayor from among themselves. Outgoing Mayor Frank McGehee decided this year not to run for committee again, leaving a seat up for election in November.

The Vote Tally

As of Wednesday at noon, Engel had surpassed 1,800 votes for the nomination. Because mail-in ballots were accepted through 8 p.m. Tuesday, more votes are likely to come in for both candidates. Updates will be posted here.

Tallies on Wednesday:

• Deb Engel: 1,825

• Kurt Kiley: 333

Congressional

Voters in Maplewood were also able to vote in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District race this year.

That seat is currently held by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who first won in 2018. She didn't face a Democratic primary challenge in June. However, five Republicans duked it out to challenge her in November. Read about those results here.

The general election will be held on Nov. 8 (see the timeline in New Jersey here).

Get more information at the New Jersey Voter Information Portal here.

Essex County has a list of locations to cast a paper ballot. See the list here.