Primary Elections on Tuesday

Two Republicans and one Democrat have filed to seek their party's nomination along with three Republican candidates for Council and six Democratic candidates.

Republicans Russell Mollica and Richard Galioto, Sr. are seeking to be nominated to run as Mayor.

Mollica owns a small-business in Bloomfield and unsuccessfully challenged Ronald Rice in the 2011 election for New Jersey Senate District 28. He has acted as a taxpayer advocate and has spoken against Bloomfield redevelopment projects. 

Richard J. Galioto, the owner of a Bloomfield landscaping company, is a former member of the Bloomfield Council. 

Sharon Soon, Carol Humphreys and Robert Goworek are running for council at large seats. All three are veterans of local GOP politics: Soon is the Vice Chair of the Bloomfield Republican County Committee; Humphreys unsuccessfully ran for State Assembly in 2011; and Robert Goworek was the Republican candidate for Bloomfield’s 1st Ward Town Council seat in 2011. 

As Patch previously reported, Bloomfield Township Councilman-At-Large Michael Venezia is running for Mayor. Joining him on the ticket are Wartyna "Nina" Davis, Joe Lopez and Carlos Pomares. Lopez, an Essex County employee is known to Bloomfield residents for his recent stint as the president of Bloomfield's Board of Education.

Pomares, the Executive Director of the non profit Cuban Arts Fund, ran for the Democratic nomination for the at-large council seat in 2010 eventually won by Venezia. Political newcomer Davis is an assocciate dean at William Paterson University and a member of the Demerest School Home and School Association. 

Kevin Lindahl, Vice President of the Bloomfield Tenants Organization and renter advocate is running for Council at Large, as are Russell Youngblood and Chris Diguilio, a Rent Advisory Committee memberwho serves as a security site manager for Toys R Us. 

Current Mayor Raymond McCarthy announced last month he would not run this election. Councilwoman-At-Large Peggy O'Boyle Dunigan is also not seeking reelection. 

In District 28, which includes Nutley, incumbent Democratic State Senator Ronald Rice is running unopposed for his party’s nomination. Nutley Republican Frank Contella is running unopposed for his party’s nomination.

Also in District 28, incumbent Democratic Assembly members Cleopatra G. Tucker and Ralph Caputo are running unopposed for their party’s nomination. James Boydston of Bloomfield and Ralph Caputo of Nutley are running unopposed for the Republican nomination to run for Assembly.

Not sure where to vote? Find your polling place here.