Two Candiates Run Unopposed In Maplewood Committee Race

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The presidential race may be commanding most of the attention, but voters can also choose representatives in local races on Nov. 3, including congresspeople, school board members, and in some cases, local council or commitee members.

For Maplewood's five-member Township Committee, two Democrats are running unopposed for two open seats: incumbent Deputy Mayor Dean Dafis and Committeeman and former longtime Mayor Victor De Luca.

In Maplewood's form of government, candidates run for Township Committee, and are elected by the public. Then, the committee members choose a mayor and deputy mayor each year from among themselves.

Committee members serve staggered three-year terms. The township committee elects the mayor for a one-year term.

• Dean Dafis took the helm as deputy mayor on Jan. 1. He's an attorney and LGBT advocate who moved to town in 2015 with his partner, Frank. Read more here.
• Victor De Luca served as mayor of Maplewood for many years and remains on a number of committees. He has lived in town for 26 years. Read more about his background here.

How and where can you vote in Maplewood this year?

To learn how to vote by mail, read the information on the Maplewood town website here.

Essex County officials said last week:

"As of Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 5,560 ballots from Maplewood voters have been received. 4,528 or 82 percent were deposited in the Maplewood Drop Box at 1618 Springfield Ave. & 1,032 or 18 percent were mailed-in or dropped off.

"The 5,560 votes already cast equal 43 percent of the votes cast for president in 2016 (13,025 votes)."

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