DiVincenzo team sweeps Democratic primary election

By: Anthony Puglisi and Gerard A. Frank

With the song Ain't No Stopping Us Now continuously playing in the background at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, the Line A Democrats, led by Joseph DiVincenzo, celebrated their sweep of the Democratic primary Tuesday night over a slate of candidates led by Thomas Giblin.

With 98 percent of the voting districts reporting Tuesday night, unofficial results from the Essex County Clerk’s Office show DiVincenzo defeating Giblin, 32,314 to 20,791. In the Republican primary, Candy Straight from Bloomfield ran uncontested and received 5,574 votes. The winners will meet in the November general election.

DiVincenzo’s team of nine freeholders swept the election. The closest outcome came in the 5th Freeholder District, where Vincent Esposito of Line A beat Ralph Caputo by 16 votes, 4,016 to 4,000.

The celebratory mood started early at the Robert Treat and the crowd grew progressively louder each time a member of DiVincenzo’s team was introduced and took their spot on a temporary stage.

After thanking those who helped him during the primary, DiVincenzo, who is the president of the Freeholder Board, said his win that night was a victory for the people of Essex County.

“You told us you want a county government that will make service to the residents of this great county its primary goal,” he said. “That’s what you demanded and that’s what you'll get from me, as your next county executive.”

The leader of Line A also continued his mantra to unite the Democratic Party. “This primary has been a long, tough battle. But tonight our family feud is over and its time to move on, he said, never mentioning Giblins name. Tonight, I reach out to my opponent’s supporters to invite them to join us as we begin our crusade to reunite our Democratic Party and win back the Hall of Records.”

Meanwhile, it was a time of consolatory remarks for Giblin, who gathered his supporters in Cryans in South Orange.

After learning of the overwhelming support for DiVincenzo, Giblin, who is chairman of the Essex County Democratic Party, said it was important to bring the Democratic Party together.

“If Joe wants to use my talents he can,” the longtime leader of Local 68 said. “This is the profession I chose. Sometimes you re a winner and sometimes you are a loser.”
He said Essex Country voters raised their voices and in his 30 years in the labor movement he would accept the results.

“We know what happened out there. We lost, they won,” said state Senate Democratic Leader Richard Codey, who credited Giblin with taking over a Democratic Party that was in shambles in 1992 and helping to rebuild it.

Carol Clark, a former East Orange councilwoman who ran with DiVincenzo as the District 3 freeholder candidate, said the near sweep by the line speaks volumes and shows the clear message the citizenry is interested in good government and government that brings results.

“The burden is on us now to deliver,” she said, adding she realized there was one more hurdle in November to overcome before she is elected to office.

Freeholder Blonnie Watson has been a partner in government with DiVincenzo for six years and complimented his leadership ability. “We have a strong leader who is dynamic,” she said.

Watson said it was apparent the voters are weary of mudslinging campaigns and the fact DiVincenzo stuck the issues was one of the reasons he won. “We had no other choice than to go that way because he had no issues,” she said of Giblin. “But Joe stuck with the issues and his ideas for the future and that is why we have this victory.”

Congressman Donald Payne also commented on the total team effort DiVincenzo’s campaign had and said it was time to really unite the Democratic Party. “It is time we get rid of those who divide us and bring people like Joseph DiVincenzo who bring us together,” he said.

Straight had a low-key celebration Tuesday night.

“I intend on running a positive and issue-oriented campaign, one that focuses on my commitment to improving the lives of Essex County taxpayers,” she said in a faxed press release. “We need a county government that earns headlines for innovation and integrity, not investigations and indictments.”

The Democrats primary campaign set a new low for negative campaigning, she stated. “They should be embarrassed. For the sake of the people, I hope my opponent is ready to put an end to the negative campaigning. Instead, let s raise the level of discussion and focus on debating real issues, delivering real solutions and making a real difference.”

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