Thanks to write-in votes on Tuesday, Morristown Councilwoman Alison Deeb will be on the November ballot, running for the Republicans against Mayor Tim Dougherty.
And the GOP will be sending three candidates against the Mayor’s council slate.
William Needham III, James Sullivan Jr. and Celeste Kaitsa also got more than 10 write-in votes apiece in Tuesday’s primary, qualifying them to appear on the ballot in the fall general election, according to the office of Town Clerk Kevin Harris.
They will challenge Democratic incumbents Toshiba Foster and Michael Elms and newcomer David Silva.
Led by Dougherty, who seeks a third term, they trounced a slate headed by five-term Councilwoman Michelle Duprée Harris in the Democratic primary.
Deeb could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
“I look forward to a spirited fall election,” Dougherty said.
Jonathan Wright, Morristown’s new GOP chairman, acknowledged that Republicans perennially face an uphill battle in a town where registered Democrats outnumber them by about three to one.
And they’re taking on an administration that has held the line on taxes while Morristown has become a hot destination.
Undaunted, Wright expressed enthusiasm for “a pretty exciting, viable slate of candidates.”
Deeb, who is serving her third term representing the Fourth Ward, “may not be the best politician ever,” Wright said, “but she’s vocal, she’s a go-getter. She’s not afraid to express her opinions and shake things up a little.”
In 2015, Deeb survived a court battle to hang onto an 8-vote victory over Democrat Justin Davis. She also made a bid for Morris County Freeholder that fell short. Deeb successfully led efforts to create a Morris County dog park, and she is active as a volunteer puppy-raiser for The Seeing Eye Inc.
Needham, the son of former Councilwoman Theresa Needham, owns a furniture gallery in town and was vice president of Preserve Greystone, a grass roots group that battled Gov. Chris Christie’s administration trying to save Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital from demolition.
“Just because the town is growing doesn’t mean it’s growing in the right direction,” said William Needham III, contending Morristown’s hefty budget surplus could be used to maintain parks and neighborhoods and enhance home values.
The Morristown High graduate (’02), a resident of the Third Ward, said he considers himself more “pragmatist” than Republican or Democrat.
Sullivan is an attorney who represented Preserve Greystone. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Kaitsa came to New Jersey two years ago from Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. She said she inherited a love of politics from her father, who serves as an elected auditor.
“I chose Morristown for the community it has, and all the experiences you can have here,” said the Fourth Ward resident, who works as a nanny and plans to pursue a career as a paralegal.
She regards the race as an adventure.
“I want to do great things for the town,” Kaitsa said. “It will be great fun, a learning experience.”
