Bob Russo (D) drops bid for Essex County Commissioner
ormer Montclair Mayor Robert Russo plans to drop out of the race for Essex County Commissioner-At-Large, ending a 48-year quest for county office.
In a text message late Wednesday evening, Russo said he is “discussing and drafting a withdrawal letter which may follow by tomorrow.” Russo bemoaned the loss of a county commissioner seat for Montclair following the retirement of five-term incumbent Brendan Gill.
Russo filed nominating petitions on Monday, two days after finishing ninth out of eleven candidates for four at-large seats at the Essex County Democratic convention last weekend.
That leaves the organization-backed slate of Verona Councilwoman Christine McGrath, Livingston Mayor Shawn Klein, incumbent Wayne Richardson, and West Orange Democratic Municipal Chairman Abdur R. Yasin running against former Newark Public Schools Advisory Board member Marques Aquil Lewis, who finished sixth at Saturday’s convention, and former Maplewood Township Committeewoman Deborah Engel, who finished eighth.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/bob-russo-drops-bid-for-essex-county-commissioner/