Rob Menendez, Jr. Wins Congressional Seat, County Races & Municipal Races

The new Congressman in the 8th District, covering a majority of Hudson County, and portions of Union and Essex Counties, replacing the retiring Albio Sires come January, will be Rob Menendez, Jr.    The son of New Jersey’s senior United States Senator Robert Menendez, the younger Menendez easily defeated his Republican challenger Marcos Arroyo on Tuesday.

An attorney and member of the Port Authority Board of Commissioners, Congressman-Elect Menendez was a first time candidate for elected office.

Also winning election on Tuesday by wide margins were incumbent Congressmen Donald Payne, Jr. in District 10 and Bill Pascrell in District 9.

In other races in Hudson County, incumbent Democrats Junior Maldonado, the County Clerk, and Sheriff Frank Schillari, rolled to easy victories.  Council candidates in East Newark, Guttenberg, Secaucus and Harrison all ran unopposed and were elected.

Three candidates for the Kearny and Guttenberg Boards of Education were elected, as well, each having no opposition.

In the Kearny Municipal Council races, in Wards 1 and 2, Democrats George Zapata and Peter Santana ran unopposed.  In Ward 3, Eileen Eckel, the Democrat, defeated David Paszkiewicz, while in Ward 4, Democrat Stathis Theodoropoulos defeated Sydney Ferreira.