Deb Engel (D) Kicks of General Election Campaign for Essex County Commissioner
Former Maplewood Deputy Mayor Deborah Engel — who stunned the political establishment with her primary win for Essex County Commissioner at Large, running with the progressive Essex Reform Democrats — kicked off her general election campaign at an event at Artie’s on Newark Way on June 24.
“Many of the people in this room are Essex Reform Democrats and you helped build this momentum and this movement, and I thank you,” Engel told the crowd. “Something bigger is happening right now. Here in Essex County. In New York. Across New Jersey and across the country. People want to be heard. They want to be part of the conversation. And they want a government that works for them. Tonight isn’t just about celebrating a victory. It’s about launching the next chapter.”
Engel sought, but did not gain, the Essex County Democratic Committee’s endorsement for the primary. She is the first non-ECDC endorsed candidate to win the Democratic primary for Commissioner in memory. Engel was endorsed by South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka; her run also benefited for the the fact that there is no longer a “county line” on ballots.
Despite running with the insurgent and progressive Essex Reform Democrats, as a Democratic nominee, Engel is now being embraced by the Essex County Democratic Committee, with Executive Director Akeem Cunningham in attendance at the kickoff event. Cunningham told Village Green that the Committee is excited to have “SOMA” [South Orange-Maplewood] represented on the Commission, noting that the towns have an engaged and informed electorate with a high voter turnout rate.
https://villagegreennj.com/election/deb-engel-kicks-of-general-election-campaign-for-essex-county-commissioner/