Council Candidate to Reveal New Running Mate

Caldwell Democratic council candidate Edward Durkin will have a running mate in November, but it won’t be Stephen Modica.

Durkin told Patch last week that while Modica stated his intentions to drop out of the race in June, he has not officially done so. He said he expects the announcement to come later this month.

Durkin said his new running mate, who he only revealed is a woman, will be announced once Modica has officially stepped down.

“I have found a very viable candidate,” Durkin said. “There is competition. The residents of Caldwell will have options. They will have an alternative.”

Both Durkin and Modica during the June Primary election to be eligible to run for council.

Modica declared shortly after the election that he he. He declined to comment for this article.

Durkin, a first-time candidate, and his running mate will challenge incumbent Republican councilmen and for two open three-year seats on the borough council.

Durkin said he looks forward to campaigning.

“It’s going to be a fantastic campaign,” he said, adding that the slogan will be, “Bringing the Community Back to Caldwell.”

Durkin said his platform will include innovative solutions for improving the downtown. He said he hopes to work with residents, merchants and to strengthen the business district.

The candidate is five classes away from finishing a master’s in business administration at Caldwell College, where he also earned his undergraduate degree.

Durkin called Caldwell College a “tremendous asset that has been neglected.”