Establishment Democrats Win Freeholder Race

Establishment Union County Democrats fended off a challenge from an insurgent slate to prevail in Tuesday’s low turnout primary.

Incumbent Freeholders Angel Estrada of Elizabeth and Chris Hudak of Linden, along with establishment backed newcomer Vernell Wright of Union Township easily defeated the insurgent slate of Elizabeth Board of Education member Elcy Castillo-Ospina and Elizabeth public school employees Erna Letemps and Marliene Abitanto for the three freeholder nominations. The freeholder contest served as the undercard battle in a Democratic primary highlighted by a contest for state legislative seats in the Elizabeth area.

Democratic Freeholder Primary Results (Countywide)

Obtained from the website of the Union County Clerk. The results are currently unofficial.

The insurgent slate was part of the Democrats for Change ticket, which challenged Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano in a district encompassing Elizabeth, Roselle, Union Township and Hillside. Results from the county clerk’s office showed Lesniak, Cryan and Quijano fending off challenges Jerome Dunn, Carlos Cedeno and Tony Monteiro respectively. The freeholder candidates ran as part of the slate in order to provide ballot placement to the legislative candidates.

Estrada, Hudak and Wright will face off against Republican nominees Andy Smith of Summit and Edwin Ortiz of Elizabeth in the November election. Republicans did not nominate a third candidate for the third seat on the board during April’s county convention. According to the county clerk’s website, 68 write-in votes were cast in the Republican primary for freeholder this year, leaving the possibility that a third candidate could emerge when the write-in results are tabulated.

Estrada led the town field with 297 votes, while Hudak polled 294 votes, Wright 279 votes, Letemps 112 votes, Letemps 110 votes and Castillo-Ospina 105 votes. The establishment Democrats captured all but one of the town’s voting district, with the insurgent slate winning in the fourth district of ward one.