Ballot Design
The ballots are out, and Democrats have moved forward with ending the line while Republicans will continue with the old ballot design.
As we wrote in April, “the line” refers to a ballot design both party machines have used in NJ to ensure their candidates have a strong advantage in the primaries.
Earlier this year, Senate Candidate Andy Kim filed a lawsuit challenging the line. The issue turned many Democrats off of Tammy Murphy, who eventually stepped out of the race. This lawsuit led to a preliminary injunction for this June’s primary that ended the line…sort of.
After the injuction was granted, Morris County GOP Vice Chair Peter King asked for clarification as to whether the ruling applied to Republicans as well as Democrats. US District Court Judge Zahid Qurashi responded:
“This court declines to extend the scope of its decision beyond the limitations of the present litigation……Nonetheless, nothing in this court’s March 29, 2024 Order prevents the Republican Party and its leadership from appreciating this Court’s preliminary injunction and taking steps to amend the ballot system for its primary election similar to what this court has ordered for the Democratic Primary.” source
In other words, Republicans are not required to use the block design and have chosen to continue a practice many good government advocates feel is corrupt. Democrats are doing it because a Judge is telling them they have to – although they are also the reason for the change.
This may be a moot point in the Berkeley Heights Town Council primary races, as both Democratic and Republican candidates are running unopposed.
A familiar name runs for County Commissioner
Jeanne Kingsley, Councilwoman for Berkeley Heights from 2012 through 2023, is running for County Commissioner. Ms. Kingley’s tenure as Councilwoman included the controversial Land Swap and a 30 Million Dollar Municipal Building. Ms. Kingsley’s last year on the Council began with a controversial decision not to reappoint the Township Administrator -later reversed after a strong public outcry. It ended with the passage of a Land Use Ordinance, which some residents felt needed to be more timely and offered little opportunity for input.
Ms. Kingsley runs unopposed in the primary.