The Middlesex County Democratic Organization has chosen its candidates for this year’s primary election.
Middlesex County Clerk Elaine Flynn, Freeholder Director Ronald Rios and Freeholder James Polos will run uncontested in the June 2 primary.
In November, they would face the Republican slate of Alex Barletta for county clerk, and Jose Alonso and Sharon Hubberman for the two freeholder seats. The GOP candidates are running uncontested in the primary after being endorsed by the Middlesex County Republican Organization.
“Elaine Flynn, Ron Rios and Jim Polos embody the best of public service,” county Democratic Party Chairman Kevin McCabe said in a statement. “Whether it is expanding voting opportunities for our residents, promoting responsible budgeting or providing better access to education, they have continued to move Middlesex County forward.”
According to the organization, Flynn modernized the Clerk’s Office by allowing online land searches and electronic filings of documents. She has expanded voting opportunities by promoting early voting to county residents.
Rios has promoted programs for veterans and has been a leader in creating the Middlesex County Veterans Housing Assistance Program, organization representatives said. He has also worked to save taxpayers money by promoting shared services, including a program to consolidate emergency response communication, according to county Democrats.
Polos has led the drive for responsible budgeting by creating a program to use the county’s buying power to save municipalities money, according to the Democratic organization. He has also created the Middlesex Rx program, which offers discount prescription drugs to all county residents.
The three candidates filed their paperwork for the primary with 882 signatures in support of their petitions.