The Morristown councilman is on track to become the county board’s first Democratic member in more than 50 years. Updated returns also show Democrats leading races in Morris Township and Morris Plains.
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Democratic Morristown Council Vice President Chris Russo leads Republican Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen by 21,030 votes in updated unofficial results from the Nov. 3 election. The Morris County clerk’s Nov. 5 tally puts Russo at 105,811 votes and Selen at 84,781, with 200 write-ins.
Russo’s lead puts him on course to become the first Democrat elected to the county governing body since Doug Romaine in 1973, according to Morristown Green, which interviewed Russo and reported it could not reach Selen for comment. Republicans would retain six of the board’s seven seats if the result holds. The board adopts the county budget and sets policy for county departments and services. Commissioners are elected countywide to three-year terms.
Where Russo built his lead
Selen led the Election Day count by 3,644 votes, while Russo led in early in-person voting by 9,153 and in mail voting by 15,521. The clerk’s municipal returns show Russo ahead in all three Greater Morristown municipalities. He had 4,013 votes to Selen’s 1,249 in Morristown, 6,560 to 3,789 in Morris Township and 1,873 to 1,244 in Morris Plains.
Russo represents Morristown’s Fourth Ward. He told Morristown Green that preserving open space was a campaign theme. His move to the county board would leave the town to fill the remainder of his council term, the outlet reported.
Morris Township and Morris Plains
In Morris Township, Democrats Stephanie Lyon and Jeremy Godwin led the race for two full terms on the Township Committee with 6,275 and 6,272 votes. Republicans George Talarico and Joscelin Grizzetti had 4,075 and 3,971. Democrat Samantha Rothman led Republican John Biehl, 6,431 to 3,904, for the unexpired term. If the results hold, Democrats will retain all five seats.
In Morris Plains, Democratic Councilwoman Nancy Verga led incumbent Mayor Jason Karr, who ran as an independent, 1,818 to 1,284. Democrats Rosaria DeNova and Lee Lusardi Connor led for two Borough Council seats with 1,776 and 1,769 votes. In the borough’s five-candidate school board race, Denise Rawding, Shawna Longo and Steven Persak held the top three spots. Elisabeth Wall and Jennifer Hernandez ran unopposed for Morristown’s seats on the Morris School District board, and Charles Rowan ran unopposed for Morris Township’s seat.
Congress and the remaining count
The Associated Press called the 11th Congressional District for Democratic Rep. Analilia Mejia, who defeated Republican Joe Hathaway in a rematch of April’s special election. In the neighboring 7th District, Democrat Rebecca Bennett defeated Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.. Both districts include parts of Morris County. The 11th also includes parts of Essex and Passaic counties.
The Nov. 5 county report showed 199,143 ballots cast and 50.74% turnout, with no provisional votes reflected in the tally at that point. Timely postmarked mail ballots can still reach county election boards through Nov. 9. Voters asked to correct a mail-ballot signature issue have until Nov. 14 to return their cure forms.