Newark South Ward runoff is today
Voters in Newark’s South Ward head to the polls today to decide a runoff election for a city council seat between incumbent Patrick Council and challenger Asia Norton, a former school board member, in a contest that will determine whether Newark Mayor Ras Baraka allies control the nine-member city council.
In the May 12 non-partisan municipal election, Council led Norton, 2,256 to 1,125, a 46%-23% margin in a field of seven candidates. Council needed an additional 189 votes — 2,4445 – to get him to the 50% needed to avoid the runoff.
The South Ward is a key part of Baraka’s political base, and Council is a close ally. Norton, a rising star in Newark politics, won two races for the school board before resigning to become a law clerk to Essex County Assignment Judge Sheila Venable.
A total of 2,177 vote-by-mail ballots from the South Ward were issued, and 507 (23.3%) have already been returned.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/newark-south-ward-runoff-is-today/