Essex County sheriff is poised to win eighth term after taking primary easily

More
11 years 10 months ago #1 by EsseXploreR
This can't happen!

ESSEX COUNTY — Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura is primed to cruise into an unprecedented eighth term after taking more than 70 percent of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial election returns.
Fontoura crushed his three opponents in Tuesday night’s Democratic primary, winning the Democratic nomination for sheriff in the only countywide race.
“I love this job, I want to keep it,” Fontoura said Tuesday night from the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, where he joined Donald Payne Jr.’s victory celebration. Payne also won a landslide victory for the Democratic nomination in the heated primary battle for the 10th Congressional District seat his father, Donald Payne Sr., held until his death in March.
Winning the Democratic nomination cements Fontoura’s position heading into the November general election in the largely Democratic county.
“Clearly we’re very pleased that the Democratic voters in Essex County think that we’re doing a good job,” Fontoura said.
His closest challenger was John Arnold Jr., a retired captain of detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, according to unofficial results from Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin.
Arnold waged a vigorous grassroots campaign and was endorsed by labor union presidents. He also rallied support among local church leaders. But Tuesday it wasn’t enough.
“We’re going against a political machine that has a lot of money,” Arnold said, adding he plans to launch another bid for sheriff next time around. “Nobody knew John Arnold ... they’re going to see that change is needed and they’re going to look to me.”
Roger Terry, a retired deputy police chief in Montclair and currently the township’s deputy mayor, received the third highest vote tally and retired Essex County sheriff’s detective Herman “Tito” Rivera came in fourth.
Fontoura, 69, was appointed sheriff in 1990 and says his only close races were in 1991 and 1994.
Around Essex, all nine municipalities that held primary elections yesterday for mayor or town council had uncontested races.
In the November general election, Fontoura will face Republican Orlando Mendez, who previously challenged him in 1997, 2000 and 2009.

www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/essex_...eriff_wins_offi.html

"It's better to regret something you did, then something you didn't do"

abandonednjurbex.blogspot.com/

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum