Last update: 9:18 a.m. Democrats Frank Rodgers and John Kelley were the apparent winners of Caldwell's municipal election, squeaking by their Republican counterparts by only a handful of votes. With all seven districts reporting Tuesday night, it appeared that Democrats took back two seats on the current all-Republican council. Rodgers was on top with 851 votes, followed by Kelley with 830 votes. Their opponents, Republican incumbents Joseph Norton and Douglas Piazza, showed 823 and 824 votes respectively, according to unofficial results. However, it was not immediately known if the …
Essex County voters will go to the polls today for the General Election to choose a state legislature and to elect the members of the Chosen Board of Freeholders and county surrogate. Besides the county-wide races, there are also several municipal contests taking place in Maplewood, Millburn, Bloomfield, South Orange, Caldwell, West Caldwell and North Caldwell. Polls will be open on Tuesday, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. LOCAL The Caldwells have only one contested municipal race. In Caldwell, incumbent Councilmen Joseph Norton and Douglas Piazza, both Republicans, are seeking re-election. They are …
By some official projections, as few as 30 percent of registered voters may turn out for Tuesday's elections throughout New Jersey, when candidates for the state legislature, county freeholder as well as mayor and council in many localities will all be on the ballot. This, despite the fact that the people who hold these offices have a major impact on state and local spending and taxation.Contrast that with the 90 percent or more who participate in Australia's elections, according to an article in Sunday's New York Times by William A. Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution."Our …
Incumbent Sen. Richard J. Codey will compete with Republican challenger William H. Eames on Tuesday, Nov. 8 for the N.J. Senate seat representing the 27th District. The race has garnered attention for several reasons: The composition of District 27 has shifted due to recent redistricting that has removed areas with majority Democratic registration, such as Newark and Orange, and added towns with greater Republican registration, such as Chatham Township. Towns now in the 27th District include: Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Livingston, …
The League of Women Voters of NJ is offering a breakdown to help New Jerseyans make a decision on whether or the state constitution should be amended to allow for wagering on sports events in New Jersey. The question is as follows: Shall the amendment to Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, agreed to by the Legislature, providing that it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law wagering at casinos or gambling houses in Atlantic City and at current or former running and harness horse racetracks on the results of professional, …
Incumbents John McKeon and Mila M. Jasey will compete with Republican challengers Nicole Hagner and Lee Holtzman on Tuesday, Nov. 8 for the N.J. State Assembly seats representing the 27th District. The race has garnered attention because the composition of District 27 shifted after recent redistricting that removed areas with majority Democratic registration, such as Newark and Orange, and added towns with greater Republican registration, such as Chatham. Towns now in the 27th District include: Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Livingston, …
North Caldwell Councilwoman Cynthia Santomauro is running unopposed for a fourth three-year term on the borough's council in the upcoming municipal election. On the council, the Republican councilwoman has served for nine year as chair of the Legal and Ordinance Committee. She is also a current member of the Recreation and Finance Committees. Santomauro, an attorney in private practice, is a member of Cooke & Santomauro, P.C. of Hackensack, N.J. and White Plains, N.Y. Her practice concentrates in commercial litigation, including real estate, banking, lease and construction issues; supervision…
John F. Chiaia has served on the North Caldwell Council since 2005 and is unchallenged in his run for a third three-year term in the upcoming municipal election. The Republican councilman has chaired the Finance committee and the Recreation Committee, and currently chairs the Department of Public Works Committee. From 1999 to 2005, he served on the North Caldwell Planning Board and he is a current member of the Essex County Planning Board. Chiaia, an attorney in private practice, concentrates in the areas of corporate legal services, including commercial transactions, NJDEP and A-901 …
Patch has asked all political candidates running for public office in the general election on November 8, 2011, to supply statements of up to 500 words giving their qualifications and platform. My decision to run for office was an easy one to make. I have a vision for the role government should play in our lives, and I am eager to serve as the voice for our community as we seek necessary improvements — together. I have often been told that I have an innate leadership quality and civic passion which would serve me well in political office. I see this election as my first opportunity to use my …
Patch has asked all political candidates running for public office in the general election on November 8, 2011, to supply statements of up to 500 words giving their qualifications and platform. Elected in 2007, Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey is completing her second term in office. She is a member of the Assembly Education Committee, the Joint Committee on the Public Schools and Vice-Chair of the Housing & Local Government Committee. “I have a responsibility to the citizens whom I am privileged to serve. Every resident is entitled to access to quality health care, a safe affordable place …
Patch has asked all political candidates running for public office in the general election on November 8, 2011, to supply statements of up to 500 words giving their qualifications and platform. Recently, political gridlock has delayed essential efforts to create jobs, properly fund education and bring economic relief to the middle class — keeping New Jersey residents waiting for help that’s needed right now. As a public servant I have always aimed to fight the useless delay caused by partisan bickering. Instead, I’ve worked together with Democrats and Republicans to get things done. As a …
Patch has asked all political candidates running for public office in the general election on November 8, 2011, to supply statements of up to 500 words giving their qualifications and platform. My career has been defined by my willingness to work with others in a bipartisan approach to get results for the people that elected me. That is why recently 16 Republican leaders in Morris and Essex Counties and The Recorder family of papers endorsed me for election to the State Senate. They understand, as I have always believed -- that so many issues are not Democratic issues or Republican issues, …
Patch has asked all political candidates running for public office in the general election on November 8, 2011, to supply statements of up to 500 words giving their qualifications and platform. The need for change in New Jersey is clear. I am running for office because I listen to the concerns of our residents, and I am willing to tackle our difficult issues with the resolve needed to make New Jersey a substantially and sustainably better state to live and work. I was born and raised in New Jersey, live in Chatham and work in East Hanover, so I understand the problems that families and …
Patch has asked all political candidates running for public office in the general election on November 8, 2011, to supply statements of up to 500 words giving their qualifications and platform. A New Jersey native, I can bring years of entrepreneurial and statewide public policy experience to work for you in Trenton where I will help the Governor solve our state’s problems. In fact, I recently received endorsements from Governor Christie, Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen and the Daily Record. The Governor said, “To help me stay the course of recovery that I’ve set for New Jersey, I need Bill …
Douglas Piazza is seeking re-election to the Caldwell Council in November’s municipal election. Piazza is currently completing a one-year term after winning a special election last November. He is running with fellow incumbent Councilman Joseph Norton, and the two Republican candidates are challenged by Democrats Frank Rodgers and John Kelley. Rodgers ran unsuccessfully against Piazza last year to fill a seat vacated by former Councilman Gordon Lawshe. “People should vote for me because I’m honest and I’m hardworking, and if I say I am going to do something I see it through,” Piazza told …
Frank Rodgers is taking a second shot at a seat on the Caldwell Council in November’s municipal elections. Rodgers, 51, ran a close race last November in a special election to fill a one-year unexpired term, but lost to Douglas Piazza. This time, the Irwin Place resident has a teammate, John Kelley, and together they seek the two open three-year terms on the council. They are running on the Democratic ticket against Republican incumbent challengers, Piazza and Joseph Norton. Rodgers said he and Kelley teamed up after Kelley went around the district with a petition against a four-way stop sign…
West Caldwell Councilman Rich Otterbein seeks a third, three-year term in November’s election. Otterbein, a Republican, is running unopposed. Councilman Otterbein currently serves on the West Caldwell Council as Council President and Chairman of the Public Safety and Real Estate Committees. He is council representative to the West Caldwell Board of Health. Otterbein and his wife, Carol, have lived in West Caldwell for more than 55 years. They have three children, all graduates of James Caldwell High School. Councilman Otterbein is a licensed professional engineer, an engineering consultant …
Councilman Dominick Aiello is seeking a fourth three-year term to the West Caldwell Council in November’s municipal election. Aiello, 52, has lived in West Caldwell for more than 20 years, and previously lived in Caldwell. He is a graduate of James Caldwell High School along with his wife, Susan, and together they have two sons, ages 15 and 13. The councilman is the president and CEO of Metro Energy Solutions, an energy conservation company based in West Caldwell. His company serves as energy consultant to the state of New Jersey. Aiello, chair of the township's Recreation and Parks Committee…
When John Kelley told Frank Rodgers he would support him if he were to run for council, he didn’t expect to wind up as his running mate. Kelley and Rodgers were destined to join forces, however, and are vying for the two open positions on the Caldwell Council in November’s municipal election. The Democrats are challenging the incumbent Republican candidates, Joseph Norton and Douglas Piazza. Kelley said he decided to run after learning the incumbents were unchallenged and started talking to Rodgers, who ran a close election against Piazza last November. “We are trying to do some things that …
Joseph Norton will seek a second three-year term on the Caldwell Council in November’s municipal elections. Norton's running mate is fellow Republican incumbent candidate Douglas Piazza. Norton, 44, was chairman of the council’s Finance Committee for the first two years of his term, 2009 and 2010. The incumbent said working to stabilize the borough’s municipal taxes is one of the achievements he is most proud of as a councilman. “I can’t even tell you how many hours were spent fixing the problems of the past to get us where we are today,” he said in an interview last week. Norton said he …
