Montclair 2024 Election Results: Council, Mayor (See Local Updates)

This article was updated at 7:40 a.m. on May 22

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair voters went to the polls on May 14 to elect a new mayor and members of the township council. See a sample ballot for Montclair here.

There will be some major turnover on the dais this year, with only one incumbent running for office again. In total, seven seats were up for grabs: mayor, two at-large council members, and a council member in each of the four wards. See Related: Montclair Town Council Will See Big Turnover In 2024

Check out the latest results from the Essex County Clerk's Office below. NOTE: Results remain uncertified.

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MAYOR

Two candidates competed to become Montclair’s next mayor: Renée Baskerville and Chrissy Thomas.

With 100 percent of districts reported, it appears that Baskerville – a former council member who lost a close mayoral election to Sean Spiller in 2020 – has emerged victorious over Thomas.

Here are the unofficial results, according to the county clerk's office:

• Chrissy Thomas – 3,494 votes (47.87%)
• Renée Baskerville – 3,805 votes (52.13%)

AT-LARGE COUNCIL

There were three candidates vying for two at-large seats on the Montclair Town Council: Susan Shin Andersen, Carmel Loughman and Robert Russo.

With 100 percent of districts reported, it appears that Shin Andersen and Loughman have edged out Russo, the only council incumbent who was running for re-election.

Here are the unofficial results, according to the county clerk's office:

• Susan Shin Andersen – 4,445 votes (35.73%)
• Carmel Loughman – 4,213 votes (33.87%)
• Robert Russo – 3,781 votes (30.4%)

WARD COUNCILORS

First Ward (100 percent of districts reported)

With all districts reported, Erik D'Amato has apparently emerged victorious over Shivaun Gaines in the First Ward. Here are the unofficial results, according to the county clerk's office:

• Erik D'Amato – 1,242 votes (60.23%)
• Shivaun Gaines – 820 votes (39.77%)

Second Ward (100 percent of districts reported)

With all districts reported, Eileen Birmingham has apparently emerged victorious over Ilmar Vanderer in the Second Ward. Here are the unofficial results, according to the county clerk's office:

• Ilmar Vanderer – 601 votes (27.26%)
• Eileen Birmingham – 1,604 votes (72.74%)

Third Ward (100 percent of districts reported)

With all districts reported, Rahum Williams has apparently won a spot on the council in the Third Ward. Here are the unofficial results, according to the county clerk's office:

• Rahum Williams – 624 votes (44.89%)
• Roddy Moore – 526 votes (37.84%)
• Wendy A. Tiburcio – 240 votes (17.27%)

Fourth Ward (100 percent of districts reported)

With all districts reported, Aminah Toler has apparently won a spot on the council in the Fourth Ward. Here are the unofficial results, according to the county clerk's office:

• Zina Floyd – 526 votes (33.96%)
• Patricia A. Hurt – 365 votes (23.56%)
• Aminah Toler – 658 votes (42.48%)

CANDIDATE SLATES

The two main slates of candidates each notched wins in their respective races.

Together Montclair's projected winners include Baskerville, Shin Andersen and Williams. The Montclair Good Government Team's projected winners include Loughman and Toler.

Meanwhile, two independent candidates also apparently notched wins on Election Day: Erik D’Amato and Eileen Birmingham.

MONTCLAIR’S LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHO DOES WHAT?

According to the municipal website, the Township of Montclair operates under the Optional Municipal Charter Law (OMCL) popularly known as the Faulkner Act. The OMCL provides for several forms of government, and in 1980, the township voted to adopt the “council-manager” plan.

In the council-manager plan there is only one directly elected power center: the council. The manager, while chief executive and administrative officer of the municipality, is appointed by the council and can be suspended and removed by a majority vote of the council. The manager’s function is to carry out the will of the council.

Council members in the council-manager plan serve a four-year term. In Montclair, council members serve concurrent terms and all terms expire at the same time.

The mayor in the Council-Manager Plan is a member of the council, and gets a vote and voice in their proceedings. In Montclair, the mayor is elected by the voters and serves a four-year term.

The mayor’s duties include presiding over council meetings. Aside from the power to appoint the trustees of the public library, and the members of the board of education in council-manager communities which have appointed boards, the mayor in the council-manager plan has no executive powers, the town website states: they are “simply the primus inter pares, the first among equals on the council.”

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