Insurgent Democratic Slate Promotes Change in Freeholder Race

In a campaign that has been centered on the county’s eastern urban centers, an insurgent Democratic ticket is calling for change as they seek to knock off party backed candidates for county freeholder.

In the only competitive countywide race on Tuesday’s primary ballot, the Elizabeth based Democrats for Change ticket is fielding three candidates in the freeholder race, versus a ticket backed by the county Democratic establishment. The Democrats for Change ticket is headed by Elizabeth Board of Education member Elcy Castillo-Ospina, who is running for Elizabeth school district employees Erna LeTemps and Marlene Abitano. They are challenging Freeholder Angel Estrada of Elizabeth, Freeholder Chris Hudak of Linden and retried educator Vernell Wright of Union Township in the race for three nominations.

“At this point we have has for many years, one person in on office,” Castillo-Ospina said. “People need to give the opportunity to other people to contribute. I am a social worker and change is good.”

The Democrats for Change ticket is running primarily to give better ballot placement to a slate running for state legislative seats in the 20th district, which encompasses Elizabeth, Hillside, Union Township and Roselle. The 20th district race has become the county’s premier primary race, pitting the insurgent Democrats for Change group against the establishment party. In the legislative race, Assistant Elizabeth Schools Superintendent Jerome Dunn of Hillside is seeking to unseat Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Elizabeth), while former Elizabeth Councilman Tony Monteiro and Elizabeth Councilman Carlos Cedeno are seeking to unseat Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan of Union Township and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano of Elizabeth.

The freeholder ticket was assembled partially to give the legislative candidates better ballot placement. Under the state’s ballot access laws, state slates with freeholder candidates can receive better placement on a ballot and be grouped together. Castillo-Ospina stressed that her ticket’s platform translates to all 21 municipalities in the county, but also stressed connections to Elizabeth.

The Democrats for Change have been running county tickets for several primaries, with Castillo-Ospina being an unsuccessful candidate in 2010. During last year's primary, the slate's sheriff candidate, Charles Mitchell, posed a  to incumbent Sheriff Ralph Froelich, who was seeking his 12th term in office. Froelich narrowly defeated Mitchell in the primary and was over Republican Peter Lijoi in the November election.

The Democrats for Change has long been opponents of Lesniak and the county Democratic Party and has been successful in winning control of the Elizabeth Board of Education and several Council seats in Elizabeth.

“Each district has similar issues. Everyone has problems with taxes and services,” Castillo-Ospina said of her ticket’s countywide appeal. “Every district has the same issues, maybe addressed in a different way. There is a lot of poverty and in every community people are losing their homes. Everyone is in the same situation. We need to work together and provide services. There are different ways of providing services.”

Castillo-Ospina stressed education as one her ticket’s top issues. All three of the candidates have backgrounds in education. In addition to her work as a school board member, Castillo-Ospina is a social worker in the Bayonne public schools, while LeTemps is an elementary school vice principal in Elizabeth and Abitano is interim supervisor of custodians for the Elizabeth school system.

Castillo-Ospina said her ticket would like to focus on services for special needs children and providing educational opportunities to spur economic development. She cited providing education as a way to propel upward mobility, particularly in urban areas and amongst undocumented immigrants, along with serving as a crime reduction strategy.

“We have to think first about the middle class,” she said. “We have to work together as a community.”

Castillo-Ospina said property taxes are a concern to her ticket, along with the overall economy. She said she wants to see a reduction in property taxes, which she said is driving up the foreclosure rates and forcing families to move around more, which she said is having a negative impact on education for children.

Castillo-Ospina said she’d like to see more done in terms of social services policy to provide assistance for those seeking employment and those out of work. She also said that her background makes her a good fit to serve as a freeholder.

“I am a mother, I am an educator, I am a sister, I am a friend and I am a Latina,” she said. “Minority groups are being effected the most and I want to make a change for them.”

While focusing much her attention on education issues, including promoting Dunn’s role as an educator and being a Senate candidate, Castillo-Ospina moved back to discussing the need for change as why voters should choose the Democrats for Change ticket.

“We need a change as fresh blood and new ideas,” It is time to refresh and look for a different vision.”

Polls are open through 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The winners of the Democratic primary will face Republicans Andy Smith of Summit and Edwin Ortiz of Elizabeth in the November election.