Three of six City Council ward seats will be challenged in the June 4 primary on the Democratic side.

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No Republicans filed to run in the primary, according to Union County Clerk’s candidate list for the June 4 primary election.

It’s not redevelopment related necessarily but with the steady decline of local news outlets, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else writing about local elections.

Elections are held in even-numbered years in Rahway, alternating between the six City Council ward seats and the three at-large seats plus the mayor; all seats are currently held by Democrats and have been since 2008. This year, the ward seats are up.

For an idea of what the ward boundaries look like, here’s a map from the county clerk’s office. The most Republican-leaning wards tend to be the 3rd and 6th, judging by recent elections, and the last seat held by a Republican was the 6th Ward seat.

Candidates had until March 25 to file nominating petitions for run in the June primary. Independent candidates have until 4 p.m. on the day of the primary to file petitions. At least in recent history, the last decade-plus, winners of the Democratic primary go on to win the November general election.

Six candidates, including all incumbents, filed to run under the Regular Democratic Organization of Union County, a.k.a., the Union County Democratic Committee, and will be running on the same line. The three disparate challengers filed separately with individual slogans, which are noted below.

1st Ward

At least one new face is guaranteed on City Council next year and it’ll be in the 1st Ward. Al Parker, who was appointed in September 2022 to the seat vacated by Rodney Farrar and then won election in November to the remainder of the term, did not file to run.

Alfmarand “Al” Montesdeoca of Essex Street will face Pedro H. Pagan III of East Grand Avenue, who filed under the slogan, “A Democrat with a Vision.”

2nd Ward

Karla Timmons of West Grand Avenue was appointed last May to the vacancy created by the resignation of Michael Cox and like Parker won election last fall to the remaining year of that original term.

3rd Ward

Vannie D. Parson of Forbes Street was appointed in August 2020 to the remaining months of Bob Bresenhan’s term and then won election to a full four-year term later that year.

Lisa Vandever of Oak Street filed under the slogan, “Democrats for Fairness and Transparency.”

4th Ward

David Brown of East Stearns Street is running unopposed in the city’s largest Democrat-leaning ward. He’s the longest-serving current council representative, going back more than 20 years.

5th Ward

Danielle “Danni” Newbury of New Church Street was appointed in October 2019 after Jennifer Wenson Maier stepped down to become executive director of the Rahway Housing Authority.

Andrew Phillips of Campbell Street, a frequent participant in the public comment portion during City Council meetings, filed under the slogan “Democrats for Rahway.”

6th Ward

Joe Gibilisco of William Young Drive was originally appointed in January 2018., filling the vacancy created after Ray Giacobbe, Jr. was appointed to the mayor. He won election later that year to the remainder of the unexpired term and then secured a full term in 2020.

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