Luciano vs. Kraemer: Essex Commissioner Candidates Will Debate

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Commissioner candidates in the county’s 4th district will get a chance to debate as the 2023 general election draws closer.

Incumbent commissioner Leonard Luciano, a Democrat, is facing a challenge from Adam Kraemer, a Republican.

The 4th commissioner district includes Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange.

The Livingston League of Women Voters plans to hold a “candidates’ night” at the Livingston Community Center at 204 Hillside Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The event will also be broadcast on LTV and Facebook, organizers said.

The Essex County Board Of County Commissioners has several powers, including approval of the annual operating and capital budgets (property taxes in New Jersey are made up of three parts: school, municipal and county). Other powers include passing ordinances and resolutions, overriding a veto of the county executive and conducting investigations.

There are four at-large seats up for grabs on the board of commissioners this year. Each term lasts for three years.

Four Democratic Party incumbents have filed to run for re-election: Brendan Gill, Romaine Graham, Patricia Sebold and Wayne Richardson, who currently serves as commissioner in District 2 and will be running for the vacancy left by retiring commissioner Rufus Johnson. Each has been endorsed by the Essex County Democratic Committee.

Meanwhile, other candidates have filed to run for five open seats in each commissioner district. None faced a challenge for their party’s nomination in this year’s primary election.

The list includes:

District 1: Newark (North Ward, East Ward, and parts of Central, South and West Wards)

• Democrat – Robert Mercado (incumbent)
• Republican – No petitions filed

District 2: Newark (parts of South and Central Wards), Irvington, Maplewood

• Democrat – A’Dorian Murray-Thomas
• Republican – No petitions filed

District 3: Newark (part of West Ward), East Orange, Orange, South Orange

• Democrat – Tyshammie Cooper (incumbent)
• Republican – No petitions filed

District 4: Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange

• Democrat – Leonard Luciano (incumbent)
• Republican – Adam Kraemer

District 5: Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair, Nutley

• Democrat – Carlos Pomares (incumbent)
• Republican – Kristen Bloschak

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