June 4, 2008 - 12:34am

Caputo hangs on to beat Russo

Incumbent Ralph Caputo beat challenger Bob Russo by 311 votes Caputo survives RussoCaputo survives Russoin their 5th District scrap for Essex County Freeholder.

Running a campaign of outrage against Caputo's status as a dual office holder (assemblyman and freeholder), Russo, a former Montclair mayor, ran off-the-line.

It marks the second close freeholder loss suffered by Russo in 30 years.

In 1978, Russo ran for freeholder and lost to James P. Piro of Nutley by 36 votes.