What Happened This Week In The Morristown Mayoral Election Race

MORRISTOWN, NJ — With a contested primary and major local implications, the Morristown mayoral election is heating up. Mayor Tim Dougherty seeks a fourth term against Democratic primary challenger Esperanza Porras-Field.

The primary election takes place June 8. With an uncontested election for Town Council and no Republicans filing to run for mayor or council, all eyes are on the mayoral primary election.

Here's what has developed in the past week.

Stacking Controversy

Porras-Field's campaign addressed a New Jersey Globe report that she received a summons in 2006 for stacking tenants in an apartment she owned. The New Jersey Globe reports she admitted to the overcrowding as part of a plea deal. But Porras-Field's campaign said the stacking occurred without her knowing.

"Esperanza owned a property with a real estate partner and leased it to a tenant," her campaign said. "The tenant violated the lease by bringing in additional tenants without the owners' consent."

Candidate Forum Scheduled

Dougherty and Porras-Field will discuss issues at a candidate forum, which the League of Women Voters of Morristown Area will livestream. The event takes place at 7 p.m. May 12.

Morristown residents can submit questions by 6 p.m. May 10 through this form. A nonpartisan coalition will choose questions among those submitted.

The Morristown Area League of Women Voters will broadcast the forum on its YouTube channel.

Murphy, Booker Back Dougherty

Dougherty received endorsements in the past week from Gov. Phil Murphy and Senator Cory Booker. Murphy, in a news release for his campaign, said the following about Dougherty:

"As Mayor, Tim Dougherty has earned a reputation for principled, forward-looking leadership and always puts the residents of Morristown first," Murphy said in a news release from his campaign. "In response to the many challenges of the pandemic, Mayor Dougherty is supporting hard-hit small businesses, delivering real results, and moving Morristown forward."

But Porras-Fields called Murphy's endorsement "generic" and devoid of specifics on Dougherty's policy positions.

"Governor Murphy's endorsement of Mayor Dougherty is generic and unremarkable at best, supporting no specific policies by the Mayor," Porras-Field said. "It affirms the notion that Governor Murphy prefers to support the status quo and a dishonorable incumbent rather than a forward-looking, dynamic Latina civic leader, entrepreneur, and business
owner."

Porras-Fields will hold a virtual conversation at 7 p.m. Friday, April 30 for Autism Awareness Month. She will engage with and get feedback from residents and specialists, while also discussing community resources.

Click here to register.

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