BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The game of musical chairs in Bloomfield’s municipal government continues.
Bloomfield residents went to the polls earlier this week to decide who takes over an unexpired term for mayor, which was left vacant when Michael Venezia took a new post in the New Jersey Assembly.
Jenny Mundell, a Democrat, saw a solid win over Republican challenger David Tucker, uncertified election results from the Essex County Clerk’s Office show. See Related: Bloomfield Election Results: Mayor, Council, School Board (UPDATED)
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Mundell, who currently represents Bloomfield’s 1st Ward on the town council, has since claimed victory. She will vacate her council seat to be sworn in as mayor later this month.
The Bloomfield Democratic Committee (as the party that won the seat in the previous election) will be nominating three potential candidates to replace Mundell on the council. The final decision on who fills the vacancy will be in the hands of the town council.
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According to the Bloomfield Democratic Committee, it is seeking interested candidates who want to step up and serve on the council. The criteria include:
Anyone interested in applying can contact [email protected] with a resume, letter of intent, and a description of their community involvement. The deadline to submit the required information is Nov. 19.
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HAVEN’T WE BEEN HERE BEFORE?
The current situation may give some Bloomfield residents a bit of déjà vu.
After Venezia won election to the Statehouse last year and resigned as mayor, it set off a chain of events that shifted some seats in the municipal government.
The council – which has the authority to choose a replacement for vacant seats – was tasked with appointing a replacement for Venezia. The Bloomfield Democratic Committee took a controversial “straw poll” to pick its suggestions for the council: Mundell, Nicole Williams and Ted Gamble, who like Mundell, was also serving as a council member at the time. Read More: Bloomfield Councilman Criticizes ‘Deceptive’ Mayoral Straw Poll
The town council eventually voted to appoint Gamble as the interim mayor until an election for Venezia’s unexpired term could be held. Read More: Gamble Appointed Bloomfield Mayor Over Mundell; Future Showdown Looms
This meant that his at-large seat on the council would need to be filled – which set off another round of searching from the Bloomfield Democratic Committee. Eventually, the council voted to appoint Monica Charris Tabares to the seat.
Charris Tabares has apparently won re-election and will retain her at-large council seat, according to unofficial election results. Read More: Bloomfield Town Council Chooses Tabares To Replace Gamble
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