By Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media
Members of NJ 11th for Change win 39 seats
In New Jersey's 11th congressional district, 39 members of the group NJ 11th for Change beat out Republicans this year — some for the first time — in races in Morris, Essex, Passaic and Sussex counties for seats on boards of education, municipal councils and freeholder boards.
The grassroots activist group, which is about 11 months old, began with three members in January but has since swelled to more than 7,500 members on the group's Facebook page, including more than 80 candidates who sought political offices in the 11th district on Election Day.
Here's who won
NJ 11th for Change, which has primarily supported Democratic candidates, had the following group members win their races this past Election Day:
- Edina Renfro-Michel (Boonton Board of Aldermen)
- Linda Gloshinski (Boonton Town Board of Education)
- John Hoover (Madison Borough Council)
- Amalia Duarte (Mendham Township Committee)
- Cathy Wilson (Morris Township Committee)
- John Arvanites (Morris Township Committee)
- Heather Reddy (Madison Board of Education)
- Pamela Yousey (Madison Board of Education)
- Lisa Pollak (Morristown Board of Education)
- Cynthia Sokoloff (Butler Board of Education)
- Marianne DeAlessi (Kinnelon Board of Education)
- Carol Nielsen (Lincoln Park Board of Education)
- Michael A Soriano (Mayor of Parsippany),
- Janice McCarthy (Parsippany Township Council)
- Emily Peterson (Parsippany Township Council)
- Heather Champagne (Roxbury Board of Education)
- TJ Best (Passaic County Freeholder)
- Bruce James (Passaic County Freeholder)
- Assad Akhter (Passaic County Freeholder)
- Keith Kazmark (Mayor of Woodland Park)
- Jairo Rodriguez (Woodland Park School District BOE)
- Lisa Vaineri-Marshall (Woodland Park School District BOE)
- Tanya Seber (Little Falls Council)
- Chris Vancheri (Little Falls Council)
- Erin Jacobus (Hopatcong Board of Education)
- Patricia Sebold (Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders)
- Brendan Gill (Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders)
- Carlos Pomares (Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders)
- Leonard Luciano (Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders)
- Britnee Timberlake (Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders)
- Sarah Cruz (Bloomfield Township Council)
- Jenny Mundell (Bloomfield Township Council)
- Thomas Heaney (Bloomfield Board of Education)
- Jessica Salinas (Bloomfield Board of Education)
- Jonathan Lace (Caldwell Borough Council)
- Christopher Bardi (Roseland Borough Council)
- Laura Greenberg Savarese (Roseland Board of Education)
- Ken Alper (West Orange Board of Education)
- Thaddeus Kobylarz (Chatham Borough Council)
And there were a few losses, too
More than half of the group's challengers, however, came up short in their races but, according to NJ 11th for Change, many made the strongest Democratic showing in years, including Lisa Bhimani in the 25th district state Senate race, Tom Moran and Rich Corcoran in the 25th district Assembly race, Tom Duch in the 40th district state Senate race, and Paul Vagianos and Christine Ordway in the 40th district Assembly race.
So where'd this group come from?
Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, NJ 11th for Change has taken to Schuyler Place in Morristown to protest outside of the office of U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) — often shouting "Where's Rodney?" — over his support of Trump's agenda and to urge the congressman to meet with his constituents in a town hall forum.
Frelinghuysen, however, has continued to avoid interacting with the group and failed to schedule a town hall meeting with the public, but he has continued to meet with constituents at private functions.
And in the case of one NJ 11th for Change member, the congressman made a point to inform her employers she was a leader of the group in a fundraising letter.
From left, Michael Soriano and James Barberio
Parsippany races were a BIG win for the group
In the Parsippany mayor and council contests, voter fatigue over the ongoing in-fighting between the administration and the council, and legal fees paid by the township over litigation, played into Michael Soriano and his Democratic slate's victory over Mayor James Barberio.
That, Soriano said, along with Parsippany municipal attorney John Inglesino's alleged bully tactics.
"The tighter that John Inglesino tried to control the race, he started trying to come after me with bully tactics, it helped my name recognition,” Soriano said. “Sometimes, your opponent’s hubris can be their own undoing.”
How did this new guy win in Parsippany?
Soriano said he believed he was able to connect with voters in this election because he's also talked about important local, non-partisan issues — such as a master plan aimed at preventing overdevelopment, traffic congestion and a humane animal shelter that generates revenue.
"I think the fact that I just went to people and talked about where our future is headed and what we can improve is why I won," he said. "By talking about what's important on the local level."
He continued: "Both Republicans and Democrats love dogs. Liberals and conservatives both get angry about getting stuck in traffic. These are every day issues that matter."
Messages placed with the Morris County Republican Committee and Frelinghuysen's office haven't yet been returned.
Now there's blood in the water
Sensing an opportunity, five Democrats have said they plan on seeking their party's nomination in the 2018 primary for New Jersey's 11th congressional district — former federal prosecutor Mikie Sherrill, Montclair State University adjunct lecturer Tamara Harris, Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett, former U.S. Army National Guard member Jack Gebbia and County College of Morris history professor Mark Washburne.
None of the candidates have so far received the official endorsement of the Morris County Democratic Committee or NJ 11th for Change.
All five are scheduled to appear at a candidates' forum in Morristown on Nov. 29, along with Republican Martin Hewitt.
Frelinghuysen's letter to activist's employer sparks outrage
Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger
Christie likely helped them win
Gov. Chris Christie's unpopularity, even within his home county, was a contributing factor to some of the upset wins by Democrats, including Soriano, according to Morris County Democratic Committee chairman Chip Robinson.
"I think the biggest thing is that no other mayor was as connected to Christie as Barberio," Robinson said. "(Barberio) rode (Christie's) coattails into office eight years ago, and couldn't escape from it."
(AP Photo | Evan Vucci)
Oh, and Trump helped, too
Despite winning Morris County by 11,000 votes last year, opposition to Trump and his agenda have grown locally over the past year.
Soriano's campaign manager Tom Jones said he believed Soriano's victory was a bellwether for the district.
"Michael’s election is a big indicator of where this district is swinging," he said.
Frelinghuysen, according to Robinson, could face a tougher campaign challenge next year if he continues align himself with Trump's agenda.
"Voters in our district are very well educated and they don’t like Donald Trump," Robinson said. "If Rodney Frelinghuysen keeps voting for (Trump's agenda) he could lose his seat next year."
NJ 11th for Change spokesman John Hartinger said he and group members spoke with numerous voters in advance of the election and many expressed the belief that "Frelinghuysen has not served their interests."
"For some people, it was the sense of betrayal for his healthcare vote," Hartinger said. "For other people, it was the sense of betrayal for being one of the only New Jersey legislators to vote for the (recently proposed tax overhaul). That hits people where they live."
They have an active, mobilized base
Hartinger said group members poured out en masse to volunteer and canvass before Election Day, and that amount of energy and engagement sent an "encouraging message."
"Everybody I think is taking away the same encouraging message — getting involved locally makes a huge difference," he said. "People got excited and recognized the power they can have when everyone comes together and works for electoral change."
In Parsippany, Robinson said, Soriano simply "outworked Barberio" by knocking on numerous doors and raising more than $100,000.
"Everything went right that went wrong four years ago," he said.
Jones added: "I really don’t see anything from stopping us from surging next year."
You're now more at risk of losing your property tax break
And they have money
NJ 11th for Change, which is registered federally as a super PAC, received more than $89,000 in contributions since its formation in January, according to the group's July filing. All of those contributions were from individuals, most of which were less than $50. Two percent of their contributions received this year were in excess of $500. The group spent most of that money, about $54,000 this year — half of which was spent on program costs such as membership events, town halls, their weekly protests at Frelinghuysen's offices. Only $250 was spent on advertising, according to the group.
Correction: The number of members in NJ 11th for Change.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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