‘Local Perspective’ Podcast Will Cover Essex County Elections

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A podcast hosted by a 13-year-old environmental activist and a seasoned political volunteer from Glen Ridge will make its debut on Tuesday evening. Its first topic? The “mail-in” elections in Essex County.

The "Local Perspective Podcast" will host its first live episode from 8 to 11 p.m., and will be broadcast live via Facebook Live on the podcast's page.

The virtual event will cover and report election results in New Jersey's May All-Vote-By-Mail municipal elections. Among the featured races will be elections for Mayor and Council in Montclair; elections for Commissioners in Nutley; Ward Council elections in Paterson; the Mayoral election in Orange; the Board of Education election in Newark; and the Atlantic City referendum.

Throughout the night, elected officials, activists and political operatives will guest and talk about the ramifications of the night's results, as well as campaigning in coronavirus times and the importance of local government.

Expected guests include:

• Laura Fortgang, Verona Democratic Chairwoman
• Justin Goldsman, President of Our Revolution Essex County
• Shawn Hunter, candidate for Mayor of Orange
• Christine McGrath, Verona Township Councilwoman
• Ryan Yacco, Passaic County Democratic Consultant
• Alex Wolfe, Campaign Manager at Roger Terry for Montclair
• Charlie Baranski, July democratic primary candidate for Morris County Freeholder
• A representative from NJ 11th for Change

The Local Perspective Podcast is hosted by Eric Silverman of Cedar Grove and Deb Maclean of Glen Ridge. Their mission is to “better inform the public in North Jersey and beyond about local issues and elections.”

Silverman is a 13-year-old environmental activist and former intern at Fortgang for Assembly currently serving on the Cedar Grove Environmental Commission.

Maclean is an experienced activist having volunteered for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Gov. Phil Murphy, and most recently serving as a staging location director for Mikie Sherrill for Congress and volunteer coordinator at Fortgang for Assembly.

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