The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (HTC) announced its endorsement of a full slate of County Commissioner candidates in Essex County. HTC will be putting its get-out-the-vote operation behind these candidates in the coming election. The endorsed candidates are:

Wayne Richardson (At-Large)

Shawn Klein (At-Large)

Christine McGrath (At-Large)

Abdur Yasin (At-Large)

Wilson Pichardo (District 1)

A’Dorian Murray Thomas (District 2)

Medinah Muhammad (District 3)

Leonard Luciano (District 4)

Carlos Pomares (District 5)

HTC President Rich Maroko said: “I am pleased to announce our endorsement for this slate of County Commissioner candidates. Essex County has been leading the way on some of the key issues that affect our members most, and I believe this slate is prepared to build an even stronger Essex County. I know we will all benefit from the incredible breadth of experience they bring to the table: as union members, community leaders, long-time public servants, and more. This is a slate that is committed to an affordability agenda, improved public services, tax fairness, and an Essex County that our members are proud to call home. We will be doing what we can to ensure this slate wins in June and November, so they can get to work moving Essex County forward.”

Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones said: "We are proud to receive the endorsement of President Rich Maroko and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council today for our Essex County Commissioner candidates.  Our candidates not only represent the wonderful diversity of our county, their backgrounds and combined experiences will also help provide unique insight into the important work ahead in the fight to create affordable housing and provide good jobs and fair wages.  Essex County Democrats recognize the hard-working ethos and fighting spirit of our friends at the HTC and we look forward to working side by side with them on our way to victory on June 2nd."

HTC represents hotel, club, racetrack, and casino workers in a region which includes NYC, Northern New Jersey, and Upstate New York.