Elissa Grodd Schragger has been reelected to serve a second term as the chairwoman of the Lawrence Democratic Municipal Committee.
Grodd Schragger was tapped to serve another four-year term at the group’s June 20 reorganization meeting. She is a former president of the Mercer County Federation of Democratic Women.
Grodd Schragger is the director of Law and the municipal attorney for Hamilton Township.
The Lawrence Democratic Municipal Committee also elected Jerome Montes as its vice chairman, and Joe Forte as secretary. Theodore Siggilakis was elected treasurer. Together, they makeup the Lawrence Democratic Municipal Committee’s executive board.
Montes is the director of Outreach, Communications and Marketing at New Jersey Citizens Action, and Forte is the vice chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee LGBTQ Caucus.
Siggilakis is the director of Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs for Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.
In her role as chairwoman, Grodd Schragger successfully challenged nominating petitions filed by Brad Moore in his bid to run as in Independent candidate against incumbent Township Councilwoman Bonne Giglio in the Nov. 3 general election. Giglio is a Democrat.
Moore’s petition was submitted to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office on June 2. It was signed by more than 300 people.
Moore withdrew his candidacy on June 7 within hours after Grodd Schragger filed a formal objection with Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello. She cited irregularities in Moore’s effort to obtain the minimum of 250 valid signatures on a petition to run for office.
There was substantial evidence to show that over half of the petition signatures were obtained through bad faith, fraudulent and illegal acts, Grodd Schragger wrote in the objection. Despite oaths to the contrary, the signatures were not witnessed in person as required by state law.
Meanwhile, Mayor Christopher Bobbitt, who is a Democrat, said he was pleased with the makeup of the Lawrence Democratic Municipal Committee’s executive board.
“With the upcoming federal and state races this year, as well as the majority of the Lawrence Township Council up for election in 2027, the next two years are important for Lawrence Township Democrats,” Bobbitt said.
“I am grateful that these four dedicated members – Grodd Schragger, Montes, Forte and Siggilakis – stepped up to bring positive leadership to the committee. I look forward to working in tandem with Elissa for a stronger, more equitable and welcoming Lawrence Township,” Bobbitt said.
