When we asked #NJPatchChat-ers "OK, Now What?" we had Tuesday's elections in mind. Voters have made their choices. And soon it will be time for newly elected officials to deliver on the promises that earned them victories. And when we asked what priorities those officials should set, we were joined by someone with a bit of perspective into the matter — a sitting councilman. Bridgewater Council President Matthew Moench joined us, using his Twitter account, BWCouncilman. Moench told us that in tough fiscal times, elected officials will have to find new ways of saving costs and bringing in …

Republicans have long ruled in West Caldwell and North Caldwell, and come 2011, Caldwell will too have a governing body comprised completely of GOP members. On the first day after Tuesday's election, winning mayoral candidates were busy returning phone calls, emails and texts from supporters–and focusing more on their "real jobs" after weeks of campaigning. But Caldwell Mayor-elect Ann Dassing and North Caldwell Mayor-elect Joseph Alessi, along with West Caldwell's Mayor Joseph Tempesta, who has been elected to a fourth term, took some time to put the results into context. The governing body …

The state constitution will change as a result of Tuesday's voting. Results posted this morning show that some 80 percent of voters chose "Yes" on the ballot's referendum question. The question asked, briefly, if the state should be disallowed from dipping into assessments to state employees' salaries to balance the general fund. Voting "yes" means that the state can apply those assessed funds, including disability and unemployment, only to funds for which they have been gathered. In other words, when the state collects money from a paycheck, and that amount is taken out for disability, …

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and County Clerk Christopher J. Durkin were re-elected handily Tuesday–with DiVincenzo picking up a third term and Durkin being chosen for his second consecutive term. With 96 percent of votes counted, DiVincenzo appeared to cruise to victory with 75 percent of the vote, while Republican candidate Herbert D. Glenn picked up 22 percent and Independent candidate Marilynn M. English trailed with less than one percent. "The last eight years, the things we've accomplished—guess what? That's in the past," said DiVincenzo at Essex County Democratic …

Republicans maintained their stronghold in West Caldwell and North Caldwell and became a majority in Caldwell–as GOP candidates swept all local races according to unofficial final returns Tuesday night. Preliminary results in West Caldwell showed Mayor Joseph Tempesta was re-elected handily to a fourth four-year term, incumbent Joseph Cecere was re-elected to the council and first-time candidate Stephen Wolsky also won. In Caldwell, Republican Douglas Piazza came out ahead of Democrat Frank Rodgers in a special election to fill a one-year unexpired term on the council. Councilwoman Ann …

Local mayoral candidates voted early on a frosty Election Day morning in the Caldwells. West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta, the incumbent Republican candidate, cast his vote before 7 a.m. this morning at Wilson School. Tempesta was joined by his wife, Anne, and his running mates for council, incumbent Joseph Cecere and first-time candidate Stephen Wolsky. After breakfast in West Caldwell, the candidates planned to spend the day visiting polling places and thanking poll workers who will be putting in 15-hour days. "I think [voting] today will be steady," Tempesta said. "I will be pleased if …

Voters in West Caldwell will be choosing a mayor today as incumbent Joseph Tempesta and challenger Alex Trento square off at the polls. In Caldwell, Council President Ann Dassing is running for mayor unopposed, as is North Caldwell Interim Mayor Joseph Alessi. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in each of the three towns. In Caldwell, Republicans John Coyle and Thomas O'Donnell are both running unopposed for council seats being vacated by Dassing and Kay Slattery. Republican candidate Douglas Piazza is up against Democratic candidate Frank Rodgers in a special election. The candidates …

Joseph "Joe" Alessi, 60, remembers a resident once saying to him, "I love this town so much that if I moved to Alaska, I would commute." That comment has always stuck with and motivated the North Caldwell interim mayor, a Republican who is running unopposed for the open mayoral seat. "This is a nice town, a real suburb, very Americana," Alessi said, citing the town's pancake breakfast and pool as examples of North Caldwell's charm. While Alessi remembers his father talking about the Depression, he believes the current economy is the "worst economic time he has experienced in his lifetime." …

While unopposed Caldwell mayoral candidate Ann Dassing, and Borough Council Candidates John Coyle and Thomas O'Donnell might not have a significant concern in the outcome of next week's election, they do have a concern for the residents of Caldwell, and trying to manage costs within a tough economic environment. The candidates are running under  the slogan "Transparency ... Accountability ... Trust." According to the candidates, this was  chosen to emphasize their respect for Caldwell residents and their willingness to be held accountable for decisions that are made. Ann Dassing Dassing was …

EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the verbatim responses of the candidates for Essex County Clerk to questions presented by The League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area, in cooperation with Patch. The candidates were given an equal amount of space for their answers. Essex County Clerk Candidates – Vote for one (five year term) Marcella A. Wilson – Republican, Attorney Christopher J. Durkin (incumbent) – Democrat, Essex County Clerk Where do you see opportunities for improvement in the scope of activities handled by the Essex County Clerk's office? Ms. Wilson: When you visit the Essex County Clerk'…

EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the verbatim responses of the candidates for Essex County Executive to questions presented by The League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area. The candidates were given an equal amount of space for their answers. Essex County Executive Candidates  - Vote for one (four year term) Marilynn M. English – Independent, Licensed Mortgage Banker/Broker, former Assistant Vice President at JP Morgan Herbert Glenn – Republican, Data Entry Clerk, Essex County Corrections Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (incumbent) – Democrat, Essex County Executive What expenses could be reduced or …

The way Frank Rodgers sees it, if you can handle a classroom full of teenagers for more than 20 years and can settle disputes between coaches and officials on a sports field, you can handle just about any situation. Rodgers, who is running as a Democrat for an open seat on the Caldwell Council in a special election this November, said he believes his ability to be "level-headed" and "calm" can help bring stability to a council that he said has been known for bickering and infighting in recent years. "I figured it was an opportunity for me to maybe step up and serve the community in a …

Caldwell resident Douglas Piazza may be a bit surprised to find himself serving as an interim councilman and now running for political office in a special election this November. But the Republican candidate, who was appointed to the Caldwell Council in August to fill the unexpired term of former councilman Gordon Lawshe, is certain he is doing the right thing. "I have learned a tremendous amount in the two months that I've been there," said Piazza. "and mostly what I've learned so far is that there's a lot of work that needs to be done to fix a lot of holes and a lot of problems that we …

West Caldwell Republican councilmen jabbed back at a flyer mailed to residents by their Democratic rivals which accused them of giving themselves a raise. At Tuesday night's council meeting, Councilman Stanley Hladik said that the flyer's claim that the mayor and council gave themselves a 20 percent raise is simply not true. Hladik said that the council passed an amendment at the Oct. 5 council meeting which gives the council greater flexibility in setting township employees' salaries. The amendment to the salary ordinance lowered and raised the minimum and maximum salaries for all full- and …

There are good things going on in West Caldwell, and Mayor Joseph Tempesta, Jr., wants to keep it that way. The 51-year-old Republican incumbent is seeking a fourth four-year term as the township's mayor in the Nov. 2 election. "We are proud of what we have accomplished in West Caldwell," said Tempesta, a township resident since 1968. "We have not changed the basic character of the town. We are a community of single-family homes–we have more than 3,200 of them. That's what makes West Caldwell attractive." Tempesta said the businesses in West Caldwell are located in the township's business …

Alex Trento says it's time for a change in West Caldwell. Trento, the Democatic candidate for mayor in the township, said after 12 years of the administration of Republican Joseph Tempesta, Jr., it is time for someone new to take over. "I will provide new leadership to the community," Trento said. "West Caldwell is changing from a very red (Republican) town to a purple town." Trento, 68, has been involved in Democratic politics in West Caldwell since he moved to the township in 1978, and also ran for the state assembly in 1979. Prior to moving to West Caldwell, he lived in Irvington, where he…

Bob Natko, one of the Democratic candidates for the West Caldwell town council, thinks that 2010 is the year that the Democrats will retake the municipal government. Given the Republican dominance of the town council for decades, Natko's claim may appear audacious. Yet Natko believes that his accomplishments and experience will speak for themselves, and propel him into a council seat this November. "The town has been under control of one party for years," said Natko, with a touch of lament in his voice. "It's a machine." Natko, 77, credits his wife, Dorothy Teltser, for inspiring him to take …

Leonard Luciano is passionate about the prospect of serving on the town council, and he is not afraid to let anyone know it. Luciano, 29, said he may be a bit younger than the other candidates running to fill mayoral and council seats in West Caldwell this fall, but he consider his age an asset. He said he believes that his effervescence is perhaps his greatest qualification to serve on a council that he feels has failed to engage a younger generation. Running as a Democrat in a heavily Republican town, Luciano is confident that the political forces are at his side in 2010 and will push him …

Joseph Cecere's love for West Caldwell is apparent upon examination of his resume–the co-owner of a landscaping business volunteers his time as a fireman and recreation coach in addition to serving as a councilman since 2007. Cecere, 47, is perhaps as well-rounded as one can be in this small community. While he admits that important work remains to be done on the council, on which he serves as council president, the incumbent Republican council candidate maintains that West Caldwell is a great place to live and that his re-election will continue the progress that has already been made in town…

Stephen Wolsky, who is running for West Caldwell town council in 2010 as a Republican, feels indebted to a town he has called home for his entire life. If elected, Wolsky said he would bring valuable managerial experience to a town council that is working to reduce expenditures in a tight economy. For this reason, he hopes that voters will identify him as the right fit and award him with a council seat come November. Wolsky, 42, has been the general manager for the Mountain Ridge Country Club for the last 13 years, and has worked at the club even longer. "The place is a city within a city," …