Christie Easily Defeats Lonegan in Westfield

Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie easily won Westfield in Tuesday's Republican primary for governor, defeating former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan by 18 points in the low-turnout primary. Christie won the statewide primary for the right to challenge Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in November.

Christie received 949 votes in town, compared to 651 for Lonegan and 22 for Assemblyman Rick Merkt, R-Mendham. Westfield had been seen as a must-win for Christie, with his closest political adviser, Bill Palatucci, living in town, along with Westfield being the home of Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, who were some of Christie's highest-profile statewide supporters. A source within the Westfield GOP said the local party made a big primary win for Christie in town a priority.

The former prosecutor won all but three election districts in town, and tied Lonegan in one first ward district. Lonegan won two districts in the fourth ward and one in the third.

Corzine easily dispatched his Democratic rivals in Westfield. The governor polled 370 votes to 62 for former Glen Ridge Mayor Carl Bergmanson, 19 for Sept. 11 conspiracy theorist Jeff Boss and 17 for businessman Roger Bacon. The Democratic primary statewide was overshadowed by the highly competitive battle between Christie and Lonegan.

In the four-way race for two GOP Assembly nominations, incumbents Jon Bramnick, a Westfield resident, and Nancy Munoz, a Summit Republican appointed to a seat last month, easily carried Westfield and the district. Bramnick received 1248 votes, Munoz 1180 votes, Long Hill Township school board member Bruce Meringolo received 203 votes and Long Hill Township Mayor George Vitureira, who suspended his campaign due to illness last month, received 135 votes in town. The competitive primary emerged following the March death of Munoz' husband, Assemblyman Eric Munoz.

Bramnick and Munoz will face former Cranford Mayor Norman Albert and Springfield Township Attorney Bruce Bergen in November. Albert received 357 Westfield votes and Bergen 368 votes in the uncontested Democratic primary. Munoz, who is making her first run for office, celebrated her primary victory at a party at 16 Prospect last night.

"I am thrilled, the last two months I have spent with voters and they came to know me," she said. "I will work as hard for the constituents as my husband did."

Turnout was 10 percent of registered voters in town. Republican voters outweighed Democratic voters, owing mainly to the contest between Christie and Lonegan. Election workers at the library said turnout remained steady throughout the day, with usually one voter at all times. Poll workers at Washington School said turnout was low compared to April's school board election, when area residents turned out in response to the redistricting of the neighborhood school. Washington workers said turnout had an uptick during the evening rush, fueled partially by commuters and mainly by parents stopping by for a classroom event at the school.

Primaries for local offices were uncontested and the candidates officially received their nominations. The Democratic Party-backed candidates for county freeholder easily dispatched challengers in the primary. The two freeholder challengers were on the ballot to assist a candidate for Plainfield mayor gain a better ballot spot in his bid. State election law gives better primary ballot slots to candidates with running mates for countywide offices.

Results for county and town offices are below.

Union County Surrogate - Democrat

Incumbent James LaCorte 370 votes

Union County Surrogate - Republican

Arthur Zapolski 1229 votes

Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders - Democrat

Incumbent Deborah Scanlon 349 votes

Incumbent Alexander Mirabella 335 votes

Assistant County Counsel Mohamed Jalloh 333 votes

Harry Wyatt, Jr. 74 votes

James Moore, Sr. 59 votes

Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders - Republican

Nicole Cole 1239 votes

Garwood Councilman Anthony Sytko 1231 votes

Roselle Park Councilman Modesto Miranda 1231 votes

Mayor - Democrat

Former Town Judge Bill Brennan 404 votes

Mayor - Republican

Incumbent Andy Skibitsky 1309 votes

Town Council First Ward - Democrat

Janice Siegel 109 votes

Town Council First Ward - Republican

Sam Della Fera, Jr. 372 votes

Town Council Second Ward - Democrat

Carolyn Klinger-Kueter 80 votes

Town Council Second Ward - Republican

Incumbent Vicki Kimmins 344 votes

Town Council Third Ward - Democrat

Incumbent Dave Haas 101 votes

Town Council Third Ward - Republican

Tom Delaney 267 votes

Town Council Fourth Ward - Democrat

Incumbent Thomas Bigosinski 114 votes

Town Council Fourth Ward - Republican

Keith Loughlin 299 votes