Former Council Member Andy Minegar

Excellent!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUMMIT, NJ—[March 24, 2026]—The Summit Democrats have announced their candidates for Common Council in the upcoming Primary and General Elections. Liz Skoler is running to represent Ward 1, and Emily Seelaus is running to represent Ward 2.

Liz Skoler is a longtime Summit resident with a distinguished career in media, entertainment and law. Born in Boston and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts, Liz graduated from Wesleyan University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She later completed a joint degree program at Columbia Law School and the Columbia Journalism School, graduating with honors.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Liz held leadership roles across the media and entertainment industry. After beginning her career as a litigator in Los Angeles, she joined the start-up team at Court TV as a producer and reporter. She later spent 19 years at Viacom (now Paramount) working with brands including Nickelodeon, MTV and VH1, serving as Deputy General Counsel and later Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and Co-Productions. Her career also included leadership roles at MixRadio, a streaming music service owned by Nokia and Microsoft, and at Audible in Newark, where she helped launch original theater and music programming initiatives.

Liz moved from Manhattan to New Jersey in 2006 after the birth of her daughter and settled in Summit in 2008. She has been active in the community, serving on the Board of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey from 2012 to 2018, including as Vice Chair of the Board and Co-Chair of the Governance Committee, and contributing to the organization’s strategic planning efforts. She also served on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of NJ Seeds. Now an empty nester with her husband, Mark Becker, Liz is looking forward to giving back to the community where her family has thrived, helping to meet people’s needs through hard work, creativity and compromise.

Emily Seelaus has deep roots in Summit and brings decades of experience in education and leadership. Her parents moved to Summit in 1977 when she was a young child, and she grew up enjoying the traditions and community life that have long defined the Hilltop City. After graduating from Oak Knoll School, Emily attended Miami University of Ohio and later earned a graduate degree from Queen Mary University of London.

Emily’s 30-year career has been dedicated to middle school education. She began teaching at a small Catholic school on Manhattan’s Lower East Side serving low-income families and is now a middle school principal. An English teacher at heart and an administrator by trade, she has built a career centered on collaboration, listening and building strong teams who know how to make tough, informed decisions.

Emily and her husband Jim returned to Summit to raise their daughters, Ellie and Madeline, who attend LCJSMS after graduating from Brayton Elementary School. Emily has remained actively involved in the community as a volunteer coach with Girls on the Run and through service with GRACE. Motivated by her gratitude for the community that shaped her childhood and now does the same for her own children, Emily is seeking to serve Summit with a forward-thinking vision and a spirit of collaboration to help ensure our city continues to thrive for future generations.

Liz and Emily are looking forward to listening, sharing their vision, and earning the support of our neighbors.

What an amazing day!

With demand increasing and supply decreasing, GRACE - Giving and Receiving Assistance for our Community's Essentials needs our community to pitch in to ensure everyone has the food they need during this time of SNAP benefit uncertainty.

GRACE served 872 families last week. Will you help serve one? If you can, please shop using the grocery list below and drop it off in a reusable grocery bag at 128 Beekman Road anytime before November 8th. Or simply make a monetary donation on their website: https://www.gracegivingreceiving.org/donate. Our Summit families will be so grateful. Thank you!

2 cans of protein (tuna, salmon, chicken)
2 cans of fruits (peaches, pears, mixed fruit)
2 cans of vegetables (green beans, carrots, spinach, collard greens)
1 two pound package of rice
1 one pound package of dried beans
1 tomato sauce
1 pack of dried pasta
1 box of cereal
1 box of pudding or Jell-O mix

Thank you, County of Union, New Jersey.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners announced today that the County will provide temporary financial assistance to households currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who are affected by the interruption of November SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“We will not allow Union County families to go without food due to circumstances outside their control,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon. “SNAP is a lifeline for thousands of households in our community. While we cannot change what is happening at the federal level, we can ensure that our residents are supported, respected, and protected during this interruption. Taking care of our community is what we do.”

This emergency action is being taken to ensure that families, seniors, and individuals who rely on SNAP are not left without access to basic food support while federal funding remains unavailable.

“This support is a bridge — not a full solution — and we want to be clear about that,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “But when people are unsure how they will afford their next groceries, waiting is not an option. I will be working with state leadership to coordinate broader planning should the shutdown continue. In the meantime, we have to act where we can, and Union County has stepped up responsibly and without hesitation, showing what government should do in a moment of need: protect our residents, act decisively, and ensure no one is left without support. And as we move through this together, I encourage all of us to look out for one another — families, seniors, neighbors, and friends. No one in Union County should have to face hardship alone.”

Distribution events are being finalized and are expected to take place Monday through Friday next week. Once details are confirmed, the County will notify SNAP households directly and will post full information at ucnj.org and on the County’s official communication channels. This temporary assistance is for current SNAP recipients affected by the shutdown and does not replace benefits once federal funding resumes.

“Union County is able to step in at this critical moment because we have managed our finances responsibly and with foresight,” said County Manager Edward T. Oatman. “Where the federal government has not acted, we are prepared to support our residents. We are moving quickly and in a coordinated way to ensure this assistance is distributed safely, efficiently, and with dignity.”

Residents currently enrolled in SNAP are encouraged to continue checking their EBT card balance at NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling 1-800-997-3333, and are required to continue submitting all documents so that benefits can resume immediately once federal funding is restored.

Official updates will be posted at ucnj.org as additional details become available.

Dan is a leader on the issues important to residents, from ending unwise city spending to collaborative infrastructure improvements that will benefit us all.

“My goal is to keep Summit strong, affordable, and united for the long term.” - Dan Crisafulli

You’ve earned my vote, Dan for Summit Council! In fact, I was proud to cast my vote yesterday for you and Jaclyn Lasaracina!

Summit Council Candidate Dan Crisafulli Discusses Issues Driving His Campaign Summit NJ Common Council candidate Dan Crisafulli outlines his vision for schools, taxes & safety, bipartisan cooperation and community. Read more.

Voted early and knocked on doors for these Democratic candidates! Go Column B!

(And a bonus photo of our dog sprinting in her Halloween costume).

Go vote today until 8pm! Quickest, easiest in-person voting ever! And vote Column B!

Mikie Sherrill
Andrew Macurdy for Assembly
Vincent Kearney, Assembly Candidate
Dan for Summit Council
Jaclyn Lasaracina for Summit
Chantal For Summit