In vote by mail tallies, incumbent South Orange Village President Sheena Collum is beating challenger Deborah Davis Ford by roughly 4-1.

It’s been a contentious, social media-centric nonpartisan election in the Essex County town.

Collum prides herself on being anti-establishment and against the grain of party politics. In a divided Essex, she has eschewed being branded either a Joe D. or Codey person.

In this campaign cycle, her allies have sought to depict Davis Ford – clerk of the Essex Freeholder Board – as a party organization person.

An 8:15 p.m. update by the Essex Clerk confirms: