An independent and a Green Party candidate have entered the race for seats on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Independent Joseph Renna of Cranford, a public information officer at the county's Runnells Specialized Hospital, has filed, as well as Green Party candidate Barbara Briemer, a retired homemaker and resident of Westfield.
Three, three-year terms are up on the nine-member freeholder board this year. All nine seats are held by Democrats.

In the Democratic freeholder primary, incumbents Chester Holmes of Rahway received 10,481 votes, Alexander Mirabella of Fanwood received 10,383 votes, and Deborah Scanlon of Union received 10,714 votes to defeat challengers George O'Grady of Elizabeth, who received 3,827 votes; Carlos Cedeno of Elizabeth, 3,588 votes, and Becky McHugh of Linden, 3,981.

In what is considered a safe Democratic district, incumbent Assemblyman Joseph Cryan of Union and Neil Cohen of Roselle both won their party's nomination, with 3,453 and 3,799 votes, respectively, in the 20th District. The two incumbents beat Elizabeth Councilman Robert Jaspan, who received 2,353 votes, and Elizabeth Board of Education member Jim Ford, 2,180 votes.

In the Senate race, incumbent Raymond Lesniak of Elizabeth won the party's nomination with 3,740 votes, beating Stanley Moskal of Elizabeth, 1,731 votes. For Senate, Green Party candidate Terri DiMatteo of Westfield filed to run, as well as Shawn Gianella, an independent candidate from Union.
In the Assembly, Green Party candidates George DeCarlo and Ryan Reyes, both of Berkeley Heights have filed in the 21st District as well as Millburn resident Joshua Jacobs, who is running on The Unemployment Party line.
In the Democratic primary, Ellen Steinberg of Chatham Township, with 2,182 votes, and former Cranford Mayor Norman Albert, 1,747 votes, beat Roselle Park Councilwoman Melanie Selk, who received 1,367 votes, to represent their party in November.

Incumbents prevailed in the GOP primary, with Assemblyman Eric Munoz of Summit and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick of Westfield both won their party's nomination with 3,276 and 3,197 votes, respectively. They were challenged by Mountainside residents Betty La Rosa, who received 1,222 votes, and Helen Ryan, 1,104 votes, and former Assemblyman James Barry of Harding, who received 238 votes in Union County. Green Party candidates Rosalie Donatelli and Hal Relkin, both of Scotch Plains, have filed for Assembly.

Incumbent state Sen. Joseph Suliga of Linden won the Democratic nomination over challenger Bill Campbell of North Plainfield in the 22nd District by a margin of 4,036-1,121 in Union County.