The long trend of Middlesex County Democratic Organization-backed candidates prevailing in primary elections continued this year.
The incumbents won their races for surrogate and two, three-year seats on the county commission, according to unofficial results.
Surrogate Claribel Cortes, who was tapped to replace retiring Kevin Hoagland earlier this year, cruised past Bruce Seitz by an unofficial vote of 29,224 to 5,986.
Running unopposed in the Republican primary for surrogate was Lisa Goldhamer who received 14,951 votes.
Democratic County Commissioners Ronald Rios and Shanti Narra easily held off challengers Veena Sinha and David S. Ye. Rios unofficially received 27,856 votes and Narra received 27,348, while Sinha had 7,640 and Ye got 7,306.
Hahn is running with R. Tali Epstein, Joseph Luistro and Payal Mehta.
Heated contest in Woodbridge s First Ward
In a dull primary season, a Democratic race for a single ward seat on the Woodbridge Township Council is drawing attention.
In the campaign for a First Ward seat, incumbent Nancy Bader-Drumm, backed by the party organization. is being challenged by Ken Gardner. Running unopposed on the GOP ticket is John Vrtaric.
Bader-Drumm, who represents Sewaren and Woodbridge Proper, is the membership director at the Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce.
She said in a statement that her professional and volunteer experiences have always been service-oriented.
Middlesex County commissioners outline priorities for 2021
Middlesex County commissioners outline priorities for 2021 ×
Nancy Pinkin is sworn in as the newest clerk of Middlesex County during the Board of County Commissioners reorganization meeting on Jan. 7.PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners shared their vision for the county in 2021. That vision focuses on initiatives and programs that position the county for continued success, including: economic development – building an infrastructure for businesses; education – enabling students to thrive; and COVID-19 – expanded testing and vaccine distribution.
The event, which was held online Jan. 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began with the swearing-in ceremonies of re-elected County Commissioners Leslie Koppel and Charles Tomaro, and newly elected County Clerk Nancy J. Pinkin, before the reorganization meeting began.