AREA — Longtime Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, who currently is facing state-level charges of fraud and misconduct, has announced his intention to seek re-election later this year.
According to information provided by the township, Mr. Bonaccorso, a Republican who has served as mayor since 2001, will be challenged for his position by Democrat Michael Shulman, a frequent critic of Mr. Bonaccorso who has often spoken out against the mayor during public meetings.
Three incumbent Republican candidates — Angel Albanese (this year’s council president), James Minniti and William Smith — also will seek re-election to their at-large positions against Democratic challengers Mary Cortazzo Semler, William Grzyb, Jr. (who ran for the township’s Ward 3 seat in 2022) and John Greaves.
All candidates hoping to secure a place on the dais in 2024 were required to submit their signed petitions to their respective town clerks by 4 p.m. on Monday.
In Scotch Plains, Democratic Mayor Joshua Losardo will be vying for re-election against Republican newcomer Christopher Kresge. Ellen Zimmerman, a Democrat serving as this year’s deputy mayor, will be running against Republican Brian Johdos, who also ran for a seat on the council in the 2022 election.
Garwood Council members Sean Keagan Foley (a Democrat who was first elected in 2023 to fill the remainder of an unexpired term first vacated by Councilwoman Heather Loffredo) and Kimberly Salmon (a Republican who has served on the council since 2022) will seek reelection against challengers Chase Padusniak, a Democrat, and Rachel Herz, a Republican who was temporarily appointed to fill Ms. Loffredo’s seat before losing the official election to Mr. Foley last year.
In Cranford, Republican Councilwoman Gina Black, the township’s current commissioner of finance, will face off against Democratic challenger Juan Carlos Nordelo in hopes of securing a three-year term on the township committee.
Councilwomen Erin McElroy Barker and Patricia Walsh in Fanwood will seek reelection. It was unknown as of press time whether any Republicans have filed to run.
Several other neighboring municipalities, including Westfield, will not need to hold governmental elections this year as all of their sitting representatives are still fulfilling their existing terms.
