Venezia and team win primary by a landslide

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Concluding a tumultuous Bloomfield primary race season, registered Democrat voters chose Mayor Michael Venezia over Councilman Joseph Lopez by a 2-1 margin, according to uncertified figures released by the Essex County Clerk’s Office.

The results have Venezia with 4,588 votes, or 67.8 percent, and Lopez with 2,166, or 32 percent. For the three at-large council seats, the top three vote-getters were Venezia’s slate: Wartyna Davis, 4,145 votes; Ted Gamble, 4,098; and Carlos Pomares, 4,051.

They were followed by Lopez’ slate: Kathy DeMarino, 1,781 votes; Jo Lewis, 1,769; and Yudi Sobharam, 1,655. Stephen DiMarzo, unaffiliated, had 178 votes.
The Republican candidates ran unopposed. Mayoral candidate, David Tucker received 1,021 votes; council candidate Ciro Spina III, 1,035 votes; Hector Correa, 1,035; and Cesar Mazzeo Sr., 1,026.

The tumult in the primary season was a result of Venezia initially being denied a spot on the Democratic line by Bloomfield Party Chairman Peter Strumolo, who then gave the mayor spot to Lopez, a sitting councilman. But then, only days before the April 4 deadline for party petitions, county Democratic boss Leroy Jones and County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. took the mayoral spot away from Lopez and gave it to Venezia. Lopez then challenged Venezia and his candidates.

In a telephone interview, flush from his primary victory, Venezia said he was only a little surprised by his landslide victory.

“To be honest, our numbers have been tracking that way,” he said.
The first thing the Bloomfield Democrat party will do, he said, is to return Jones as county chairman and elect a new Bloomfield chairman.

He also said he will try to unite Bloomfield Democrats by reaching out to Lopez and his people.

“We still have a race in November,” Venezia said, “and Hillary still has a race against Donald Trump.”

The general election this year will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8