Ceberio and Fusco Claim Victory in Freeholder Primary

Passaic County Freeholder candidates Robert Ceberio and Frank Fusco defeated Michelle Joustra and Donna Anderson in this year’s primary election.

Ceberio and Fusco will face off against Democratic incumbent Bruce James and newcomer T.J. Best in November’s general election.

“For our soon-to-be-freeholders, the fight’s now with the Democrats,” said state Assemblyman Scott Rumana. Rumana chairs the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization, (PCRRO) the organization, of which the three winners are members. “We know we have the right messages for the residents of Passaic County and for all of the communities that make up Passaic County.” 

The results were delayed after two of the PCRRO's poll workers were thrown out of polling places in Totowa, Rumana said.

Ceberio is a member of the Wayne Board of Education. He was formerly the executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.

“The campaign for November starts tonight,” Ceberio said. “We have to work [very hard.] With all of us working together, we can rid ourselves of that distinction.”

Surrogate candidate Larry Tosi defeated Michael McLaughlin. Tosi will run against Democrat Bernice Toledo in November.

“It’s time for the grown-ups to take control of the county,” Tosi said to loud ovation from the crowd at The Grand Chalet on Route 23 late Wednesday night.

Fusco said there has been 10 years of “financial destruction” by the freeholder board that must stop now. He said that residents should get ready for 10 years of fiscal accountability when he and his running mates are elected.

The Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders currently has four Democrats serving on it.

McLaughlin, Anderson and Joustra ran under the slogan of Republicans for a Better Passaic County and the GOP Strong organization. Ceberio, Tosi, and Fusco are members of the PCRRO.

“We did our job tonight. We made sure that we did our job,” Rumana said.

Anderson and Joustra received 5,056 and 4,849 votes, respectively. Ceberio received 5,264. Fusco received 5,377. Tosi defeated McLaughlin by less than 150 votes: 5,276 to 5,135. According to the Passaic County Clerk’s office, 100 percent of polling districts reported results, however the tallied numbers do not include absentee ballots.