NEWBURGH – Democrat Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey will have no Republican competition when he seeks re-election in November. No Republican candidate has stepped forward. Ali Mohammad is, however, running as an independent.
Three Democrats are vying for two council-at-large posts – incumbent Anthony Grice and challengers Omari Shakur and Steven Majano. Whoever wins the June primary will face Republican Christine Bello, former mayoral candidate, who is running because she believes another voice is needed on the city council.
“We have a whole swath of people that are underrepresented in the city because of the charter change and making it very difficult for anyone other than a Democrat to win, and as a result of that, we have group-think on the council. We have no alternative views and it is very frustrating.”
Bello said she would add a needed voice as a city business owner and a landlord.
The only other Republican running in Newburgh this fall is former councilman John Guidice, seeking the third ward seat currently held by Councilman Robert Sklarz, who was appointed to replace former Councilman Jonathan Jacobson, who was elected to the State Assembly
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