Elections are hard. It’s a simple fact of life. Every ballot is filled to the brim with people who one may only know from yard signs. So, The Pioneer is breaking down Essex County’s ballot for the 2024 elections with all you need to know about the candidates, their views, and additional links for further reading. The Pioneer hopes you can get out and vote on November 5 at one of the many polling locations in West Orange or vote early from October 26 to November 3.
Section 1: Electors of President and Vice President (Vote for One)
1A: Kamala D. HARRIS, Democratic Party
Running Mate (Vice President): Tim Walz (Democrat Governor of Minnesota). Slogan: “Let’s WIN this,” “When we fight. We win,” and “We’re not going back.” Key Policies: Lower costs of living and home ownership/renting, support the American middle-class and its workers, tackle the climate crisis, and more. Major Political Experience: Vice President of the United States (2021-2025), United States Senate (2017-2021). Read More: https://kamalaharris.com/
1B: Donald J. TRUMP, Republican Party
Running Mate (Vice President): JD Vance (Republican Senator from Ohio). Slogan: “Make America Great Again.” Key Policies: Secure the US-Mexico border/deport illegal immigrants, end inflation, protect the Constitution, and more. Major Political Experience: President of the United States (2017-2021). Read More: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/
1C: Chase OLIVER, Libertarian Party
Running Mate (Vice President): Mike ter Maat (businessman). Slogan: “Chase Your Dreams.” Key Policies: No wars, no debt, no tyranny, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (activist). Read More: https://votechaseoliver.com/
1D: Claudia De La CRUZ, Party for Socialism and Liberation
Running Mate (Vice President): Karina Garcia (educator). Slogan: “End Capitalism Before It Ends Us.” Key Policies: End capitalism and the power it gives to corporations and the rich, free Palestine, expand civil rights, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (educator). Read More: https://votesocialist2024.com
1E: Joseph KISHORE, Socialist Equality Party
Running Mate (Vice President): Jerry White (journalist). Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Not evident, is known for being a Marxist and Trotskyist. Major Political Experience: NONE (journalist). Read More: No available readings are evident.
1F: Rachele FRUIT, Socialist Workers Party
Running Mate (Vice President): Margaret Trowe (women’s rights activist). Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Protect worker’s rights and defend Israel. Major Political Experience: NONE (activist). Read More: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r100hunojc
1G: Randall A. TERRY, U.S. Constitution Party
Running Mate (Vice President): Stephen E. Broden (businessman, pastor, activist, and broadcaster). Slogan: “Let there be life.” Key Policies: Defend children, defeat Kamala Harris/Tim Walz, and “destroy the Democratic Party.” Major Political Experience: NONE (activist). Read More: https://www.terry2024.com/
1H: Robert F. KENNEDY, Jr., Independent
Running Mate (Vice President): Nicole Shanahan (attorney). * – Kennedy suspended his Presidential bid on August 23, endorsing Trump for President, but he remains on the ballot.
1H: Jill STEIN, Green Party
Running Mate (Vice President): Rudolph Ware (historian and professor). Slogan: “People, Planet, Peace.” Key Policies: Prompting civil rights, preventing climate change, supporting Palestine, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (physician and activist). Read More: https://www.jillstein2024.com/
Section 1: United States Senator (Vote for One)
2A: Andy KIM, Democratic Party
Slogan: “Restoring Integrity to the US Senate.” Key Policies: Ending government corruption, protecting reproductive rights, supporting small businesses/creating jobs, and more. Major Political Experience: United States House of Representatives (2019-2025). Read More: https://www.andykim.com/
2B: Curtis BASHAW, Republican Party
Slogan: “Empower Liberty. Ignite Prosperity.” Key Policies: Supporting small businesses, securing the US-Mexico border, protecting abortion rights, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (business owner). Read More: https://curtisbashawforsenate.com/
2C: Kenneth R. KAPLAN, Libertarian Party
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Promoting smaller government, lowering taxes, creating more individual liberty, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (realtor). Read More: https://kaplanforsenate.com/index.php
2D: Patricia G. MOONEYHAM, Vote Better
Slogan: “Know Better. Do Better. Vote Better.” Key Policies: Economic/tax reform, education reform, healthcare reform, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (unknown). Read More: https://votemooneyham4ussenate.com/
2F: Joanne KUIANSKY, Socialist Workers Party
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Defend Israel, back Ukraine, protect the Constitution, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (unknown). Read More: Socialist Workers Party will field candidate for U.S. Senate – New Jersey Globe
2I: Christina KHALIL, Green Party
Slogan: “Healing The New Jersey Of Today And Tomorrow,” “Hope for New Jersey,” “#HealWithKhalil.” Key Policies: Addressing climate change, redesigning the immigration system, protecting civil rights, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (unknown). Read More: https://khalilforsenate.com/
House of Representatives (Vote for One)
3A: LaMonica McIVER (Incumbent), Democratic Party
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Economy, education, energy, and more. Major Political Experience: United States House of Representatives (September 23, 2024-January 3, 2025). Read More: https://mciver.house.gov/
3B: Carmen BUCCO, Republican Party
Slogan: “For New Jersey.” Key Policies: Lower taxes, improve the education system/school safety, eliminate corruption, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (business owner). Read More: https://carmenbucco.com/
3D: Cynthia A. JOHNSON, C4C 2024
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Addressing the housing crisis. Major Political Experience: NONE (professor and NJ Council). Read More: https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/johnson/
3E: Michelle MIDDLETON, All of Us!
Slogan: “Democracy is About All of Us.” Key Policies: Not evident. Major Political Experience: NONE (public relations). Read More: https://michellemiddleton4congress.com
3G: Donna WEISS, Social Activist
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Not evident. Major Political Experience: NONE (unknown). Read More: No available readings are evident.
3I: Jon Carlos SERRANO, Green Party
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Civil rights expansion, environmental protections, universal healthcare, and more. Major Political Experience: NONE (student worker). Read More: https://www.jon4congress.com/
Section 1: Sheriff (Vote for One)
4A: Amir JONES, Democrat
Slogan: “Our Vision, Our Vote, Our Future.” Key Policies: Improve the police and community relationship, combat the opioid epidemic, work with mental health groups, and more. Police Experience: Current Essex County Undersheriff, Essex County Sheriff Office (2012-Present). Read More: https://www.amirjonesforsheriff.com/news
4B: Nicholas PANSINI, Republican
Slogan: N/A. Key Policies: Not evident. Police Experience: Current Essex County Community College corrections officer. Read More: No available readings are evident.
Section 1: Register
5A: Juan M. RIVERIA, Jr, (Incumbent), Democratic Party
Experience: Current Essex County Register. Read More: About the Register
5B: Jeffery M. POLEWKA, Republican Party
Experience: Essex County Police Officer. Read More: Verona, Nutley cops among 200 Club of Essex County’s Valor Award recipients
Section 2: Council Members At-Large (Vote for Three)
1J: Jonathan REDWINE, “Principled Leadership for West Orange”
Key Policies: Improve how the town is governed, public discussions of plans, and more. Read More: https://www.jonathanredwine.com/
2J: Joe KRAKOVIAK, “Together We Can Do Better”
Key Policies: Reducing debt, restructuring the WO budget, and overall improving WO’s finances. Read More: Joe Krakoviak Launches Bid For West Orange Town Council: 2024 Election
3J: Joyce L. RUDIN “Improving Your Quality of Life”
Key Policies: Opposing unfair tax breaks and improving quality of life and transparency. Read More: https://joycerudinfortowncouncil.com/
4J: Doug ADAMS, “A Bridge Forward”
Key Policies: Creating dialogue to improve the WO community, build new pathways for “uniquely gifted” residents, and preserve WO’s natural gifts. Read More: https://dougadamsforwestorange.com/home-1015#section-Jd6cDn6jSM
5J: Michelle CASALINO (Incumbent), “Always Working for West Orange”
Key Policies: Improving WO quality of life, aiding small businesses, and more. Read More: https://www.westorange.org/1270/Michelle-Casalino
6J: Tammy WILLIAMS (Incumbent), “Moving Forward Together”
Key Policies: Representing WO’s diverse voices, boost local businesses, and more. Read More: https://www.westorange.org/203/Tammy-Williams
Section 3: Board of Education – Three Years (Vote for Two)
1K: Jeffery LICHTMAN, “For the Children”
Key Policies: Not evident. Read More: https://www.yachad.org/jeff-lichtman/
2K: Brian ROCK (Incumbent), “West Orange Forward”
Key Policies: Investing in WO’s schools, focusing on diversity and inclusion/equity, and more. Read More: Brian Rock
3K: Eric STEVENSON (Incumbent), “West Orange Forward”
Key Policies: Continue to build WO’s school system, create strong leadership in WO, and more. Read More: Eric Stevenson
4K: Adam KRAEMER
Key Policies: Control the budget better and raise academic standards. Read More: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/west-orange/articles/west-orange-candidate-profile-adam-kraemer* – (Kraemer uses certain outdated and/or inaccurate statistics in his writing, find accurate statistics here)
Section 3: Board of Education – Special Election (Vote for One)
5K Dia Nicole BRYANT (Incumbent), “For Our Kids”
Key Policies: Improve research, improve prosperity, and more. Read More: Dr. Dia Bryant Appointed as New West Orange Board of Education Member