The Maplewood Democratic Committee has endorsed incumbent Jerry Ryan and newcomer Nancy Adams from a field of eight contenders to run for two seats on the Maplewood Township Committee.
Eight Maplewood residents submitted letters of interest to be considered for endorsement by the Maplewood Democratic Committee in the June Primary Election. The Maplewood Democratic Committee put out a call for candidates earlier this year. Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Kathleen Leventhal announced that she would not seek a fifth term.
Besides Ryan and Adams, those who submitted were Frank McGehee, Karen Pisciotta, Greg Lembrich, Tom Carlson, Kurt Kiley, and MD Marguiles.
Ryan is a longterm member of the Township Committee and former Mayor of Maplewood. Adams serves on the Planning Board and is a professional with experience in commercial district management: Adams has worked as executive director of both Main Street South Orange and Red Bank RiverCenter.
The endorsement of the Maplewood Democratic Committee has become a de facto announcement of the election winners in recent years: No Republican has been elected to the Maplewood Township Committee since 1991. In fact, the last Republican to serve left office in 1994. It’s an interesting turn of events since Maplewood’s leadership was solidly Republican for decades before the early 1990s.
Candidates must now file to run with the New Jersey Division of Elections. March 30, 2015 is the Filing Deadline for Democratic and Republican Candidates wanting to run in the June 2, 2015 Primary Election.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
