Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Bridgeton Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

11 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

J. Curtis EdwardsBridgeton City Council member since 2015 and CEO of CompleteCare Health Network. A U.S. Navy veteran, he began public service on the Bridgeton Board of Education.6sourced
Teodoro MartinezCandidate for Mayor of Bridgeton on the "New Vision, One Community, Brighter Future" ballot line.2sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 5

Voters choose a mayor and up to five of nine candidates for the five at-large City Council seats; the whole governing body is on the ballot.

4 notes on these statements

Longtime Mayor Albert Kelly was reported in April 2026 to be preparing to step away from public office. Front Runner New Jersey · Apr 30, 2026

J. Curtis Edwards, a council member since 2015, is running for mayor, and Angelia Edwards is running for his council seat, according to Front Runner New Jersey. Front Runner New Jersey · Apr 30, 2026

Michelle Azpiri is both the Director of the Bridgeton Public Library and a candidate for City Council. InformTheVoteNJ

Municipal Question No. 1 on the same ballot asks whether the Bridgeton Free Public Library should be dissolved effective January 1, 2027. Cumberland County Clerk

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBridgeton Free Public Library referendum, Municipal budget and taxes, Redevelopment tax exemptions Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Bridgeton Free Public Library referendum

Where it standsVoters will decide on November 3, 2026 whether the Bridgeton Free Public Library is dissolved effective January 1, 2027.

What's on the tableThe council will carry out the result, either keeping the library funded or dissolving it and using the money to reduce the municipal tax levy.

The ballot asks: "Shall the free public library established pursuant to R.S. 40:54-1 et seq. in the City of Bridgeton be dissolved, effective January 1, 2027?" Cumberland County Clerk
The ballot's interpretive statement says that if voters approve, the library will be dissolved and the monies used solely to reduce the amount the municipality must raise by local property tax levy. Cumberland County Clerk
The council passed Ordinance 26-11, which places the question on the ballot, on July 21, 2026, with four members voting yes and one absent. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

Municipal budget and taxes

Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026 municipal budget on June 30, 2026, after it was cut from a 36-cent to a 19-cent tax increase.

What's on the tableThe next council will take up the 2027 budget and decide where to cut or raise revenue.

The city's CFO told the council the 2026 budget was introduced April 21, 2026 with a 36-cent increase and was cut to a 19-cent increase. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
The council adopted the 2026 budget, Resolution 118-26, by a 5-0 roll call on June 30, 2026. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, June 30, 2026 (special meeting) · Jun 30, 2026

Redevelopment tax exemptions

Where it standsThe council approved an amendment to the long-term tax exemption for Eastern Pacific Development's Phase I redevelopment project on July 21, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide on further redevelopment agreements and long-term tax exemptions.

Ordinance 26-14 amends Ordinance 22-27, which approved a long-term tax exemption with Eastern Pacific Development, LLC for Phase I of a redevelopment project. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
Ordinance 26-14 passed on July 21, 2026 with three yes votes, one abstention and one member absent. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

Federal immigration agents on city property

Where it standsCouncil members said in July and August 2026 that the city was researching an ordinance; it was not on the August 18, 2026 agenda.

What's on the tableThe council will decide whether to adopt an ordinance or resolution on federal agents staging on city property.

Council President Edward Bethea asked the City Solicitor and Business Administrator on July 21, 2026 to look into the city's options regarding the proposed ordinance. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
Council President Edward Bethea said on August 18, 2026 that the measure was not on the agenda so that what the city adopts has some weight. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026

Public access to council meetings

Where it standsRecent council meetings were held in Council Chambers at 330 Fayette Street, starting around 5:30 p.m.

What's on the tableThe council decides how meetings are recorded and shared with residents who cannot attend in person.

The council's August 18, 2026 meeting was held at 5:33 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Police and Municipal Court Complex, 330 Fayette Street. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
William A. Matias said in an interview that Bridgeton should make greater use of social media, livestreaming and recorded government meetings. InformTheVoteNJ · Aug 31, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should you vote on dissolving the Bridgeton Free Public Library?
2. Should the city grant long-term property-tax exemptions to redevelopers?
3. Should the city bar federal immigration agents from staging on city property?
4. Should the city livestream and record council meetings online?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineNJ Division of ElectionsOct 13, 2026
Early voting begins (through November 1)NJ Division of ElectionsOct 24, 2026
Election Day (polls open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)NJ Division of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 5 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Bridgeton is governed under the Faulkner Act's Mayor-Council Plan A: voters elect a mayor and five City Council members at-large in non-partisan elections, and council members serve four-year concurrent terms. City of Bridgeton
The council elects one of its own members as Council President. City of Bridgeton
The mayor appoints department heads with council approval and has a veto over ordinances that the council can override by two-thirds of all members. City of Bridgeton
In the roll-call votes recorded in the July 21, 2026 minutes, only the five council members are listed as voting. Bridgeton City Council meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

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