Top South Jersey Races to Watch Involving Candidates of Color
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY – With nationwide elections around the corner, South Jersey will play a part in several interesting local races that could be a glimpse into larger issues come a pivotal electoral year comes 2025.
Here are some of a handful of South Jersey races involving people of color that should catch your attention in November.
Atlantic City
This Ward 5 race could have larger implications in the mayoral race next year and the wind turbine projects in New Jersey. There is a re-do of the Ward 5 race from last year after judge found the winner of the race, Muhammad “Anjum” Zia, actually lived outside of the city, against election code.
His appointed replacement Mohammed Huq provided the pivotal 5-4 vote to move city’s wind turbine project forward. Maria Lacca, his challenger in the November election, has vowed to reverse the vote.
Lacca charges that the underground cable construction would disrupt Atlantic City’s most culturally and racially diverse neighborhood and wants them to take another route – if it should be done at all. Lacca, who lost to Zia by 12 votes in the last Ward 5 election, was the one to successfully sued the get the election thrown out.
In short, Atlantic City’s wind turbine aspirations could hang in the balance of this election. The election also has political implications. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew has been criticizing wind turbine plans down the Jersey the Shore, which impressive success, while Gov. Phil Murphy and Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small have argued for it.
Small, who is under indictment along with wife La’Quetta Small, by the Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office in relation to the harshly disciplining his teenage daughter earlier this year, is hoping for a Huq win to quiet the noise about the wind turbines, for the sake of how re-election in 2025.
Hamilton Township
Deputy Mayor and longtime businessman Robert Laws will be trying to keep his seat against two Democratic challengers. Laws, who owns a local insurance company, is a former standout Stockton University athlete who has molded young people as a youth sports coach.
The Republican will be shooting for re-election with running mate Robert Cheek against Democrats Judy Link and William Beyers.
Burlington County
Commissioner Felicia Hopson will be trying to hold on to her seat. She helped Democrats regain control of the Burlington County Board of Commissioners in 2019 and has led the board for the past two years as its director. She is expected to make another strong showing as the country’s top executive again.
Camden County
It may not be the first time, but a unique matching of father and son running together for the Lawnside Board of Education is taking place. Qawi Austin, Sr., and Qawi Austin, Jr. running on the same ticket with Glenn Arterbridge for spots on the board.
Austin, Sr. is a certified professional coach and strategy consultant. They are running against Darlene Still and Bridgette Kittles for three spots.
Cumberland County
Antonio Romero, who became the first Latino to ever win a seat on the Cumberland County commissioners, will be trying to keep the spot with running mate Joe Sileo Jr. against Democrats John Capizola and Robert Austino.
The Bridgeton School Board will see a race dominated by African American women, as incumbents Dionne Edwards, Mary Peterson and Markida Taylor are fighting off a challenge from Chrstina Lingo and Damita White-Morris.
Vineland City Council President Dr. Elizabeth Arthur leads a slate of five candidates under Mayor Anthony Fanucci’s ticket – including Latino incumbent Albert Vargas and newcomer Cruz Gomez Jr. along with Paul Spinelli and Scott English. Rowan University executive Mayra Arroyo will be trying to break through one spot against that ticket to win a seat.
On the Vineland School Board, incumbent Alix Silva will be trying to hold on to his seat as newcomers Shane Harris, Makema Douglas and Donna Perez will be trying for a spot. Incumbent Eugene Medio is also running in the race that will seat three.
Gloucester County
In Glassboro, the home of Rowan University, Anna Miller will be trying to keep a seat on city council which she has held for more than a decade. Currently serving as council president, Miller and fellow Democratic incumbent Andrew Halter will be trying to fend off Republicans Danielle Mazza-Diventi and Michael Oscar.
In Logan Township, an interesting race is brewing as deputy mayor and longtime councilwoman Bernadine Jackson is running for re-election against Republican Edward Durr III. If Durr name sounds familiar, he is the son of Edward Durr, Jr., whose upset of NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021 nearly set the state’s Democratic political establishment on fire.
Jackson, however, and more than enough name recognition in Logan Township with more than 30 years in community service experience in the municipality. Logan Township Mayor Frank Minor is also the leader of the South Jersey Black Political Action Caucus.
Salem County
In the Salem County Clerk race, former Penns Grove councilwoman and educator Charlyn Martin is running as a Democrat, trying to become Salem’s first countywide office holder in recent memory.
“If elected, my priorities will include enhancing transparency; making public records more accessible to all residents; improving efficiency, streamlining processes to reduce wait times and improve service delivery and ensuring our election process is secure, fair, and accessible to every eligible voter,” she said in a statement on Facebook in August when announcing her candidacy.
Martin is running against Republican Dale Cross for a five-year stint.
READ: Charlyn Martin Overcomes Odds
Salem County NAACP President Nelson Carney and longtime education Germer Ledford are running for a spot on the county commissioner’s board against Republican incumbents Benjamin Laury and Mickey Ostrum.
In Penns Grove, Democratic incumbents Sonya Worley and Martin Mincey are fighting to keep their seat against Republicans Jesus Lopez and Louis Pasquale.
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