Published in The Lance, student-run newspaper of Livingston High School, Vol. 69 Issue 02
Local Elections will Shape the Futue of Livingston
In November 3 approaches, it’s important for residents to know about all the elections happening in their municipality and county. For voters in Livingston, there are five local races to look out for.
This year, one of the seats of Livingston’s five-member Board of Education is up for election. Incumbent Fang Gong faces Neal A. Ashinsky. This is a nonpartisan election, and the winner will serve a three-year term on the Board.
On Livingston’s Town Council, three seats are up for election. Incumbent Democrats Edward Meinhardt and Khetan Bhuptani (Livingston’s Deputy Mayor), Democrat Stacey Abenstein, and Republican Timothy Foley are the candidates, after winning their parties’ June primaries. Voters can cast up to three votes for their preferred candidates (but only one vote per candidate), and the top 3 candidates will serve a four-year term on the Town Council.
Essex County is divided into five districts. Each district elects one commissioner to the County Board of Commissioners, based in Newark, to serve a three-year term. Livingston lies within District 4. Incumbent Democrat Leonard M. Luciano faces former 2025 candidate for the NJ Assembly Adam Kraemer. This is a rematch of the 2023 District 4 Commissioner Election which Luciano won by 19 points.
In addition, there are four At-Large Commissioners elected by all residents of the county regardless of district. Democrats nominated Wayne L. Richardson (incumbent), Abdur R. Yasin, Deborah Engel, and Christine MacGrath, with Republicans nominating Sahwa DeFrank, Demetrius Eley, Daniela Ferreira Almeida, and Douglas Freeman.
Finally, residents of Essex County will have the opportunity to elect their County Executive. Incumbent Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., Democrat, faces Martiza Matthews, Republican. The winner of this election will serve a
These elections will determine who governs Livingston for the next few years, and it is important for all those who are able to vote to do so.
