Sunday, March 18, 2012
Union County Freeholders pull the plug on MusicFest, saving at least 42 county employees from being laid off. From police reports to council decisions, here's a look at the top news for the last week
Faced with at least 42 layoffs and the possibility of additional job cuts, county officials decided to cancel the annual MusicFest held in Clark's Oak Ridge Park."A consensus was reached by the Freeholder Board (March 8) following numerous fiscal committee meetings, union negotiations and departmental meetings," the press release stated. The Board also canceled the Union County Rhythm and Blues by the Brook. County officials say the cuts will save approximately $1.2 million. In other news around the county: BERKELEY HEIGHTS On Saturday, March 11, Berkeley Heights Police Officers responded Ralph Pl., Branko Rd. and Ridge Dr. to investigate three separate residential burglaries. Investigations revealed all three residences were forcibly …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Republicans such as Nancy Munoz, Jon Bramnick, and Tom Kean came out to support the Congressman in front of Summit City Hall.
Congressman Leonard Lance kicked off his reelection campaign for New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District yesterday in front of Summit City Hall. It was his forth stop on his first day of heavy campaigning. Political leaders from Summit joined other Republican politicians from Westfield and Kenilworth who came out to support Lance. Mayor Ellen Dickson was on hand as well as Senator Tom Kean, the chairman of the Lance for Congress campaign, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, both campaign co-chairs. “I am proud to endorse Leonard Lance for Congress," said Kean. "As our Congressman, Leonard Lance is leading the fight for lower taxes, less spending and more accountability in the federal budget process," he said. Lance…
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Elections, Veterans Day, big sports wins dominate the story in towns across Union County
Berkeley Heights Jeanne Kingsley, a 15-year resident of the town with a long list of experience working in finance, and incumbent Robert "Bob" Woodruff, former mayor of Berkeley Heights, were both elected Tuesday to fill the two open seats on the Berkeley Heights Township Council, defeating Democrats Stephen Yellin and Jamie Divine Cadavid. Kingsley finished with 1,494 votes, while Woodruff garnered 1,459 votes. Yellin received 819 and Divine Cadavid 569 votes. Woodruff said during his tenure as Mayor and in his current Council position, he has worked productively for the Township’s citizens and feels that his vast experience is important at this time. “These difficult times require steady stewardship from those entrusted with governance…
Friday, November 11, 2011
With many issues debated during campaign season, where should newly-elected officials begin?
After all the ballots have been cast and counted, Election Day is a distant memory. As the newly-elected start to make good on campaign promises, where do you think they should begin? Vote in our poll and tell us why you chose what you did in the comments.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Democrats remained on top in Union County Freeholder race.
In a resounding victory, incumbents Angel Estrada, Chris Hudak, and newbie Vernell Wright were elected as Union County Freeholders Tuesday night, making it 16 years since the last Republican sat on the board of freeholders. With three seats up for grabs, Andy Smith of Summit and his running mate Ed Ortiz of Elizabeth faced an uphill battle raising less money than their opponents. While Smith raised $7,000, Ortiz was unable to raise enough to file a report to the state. While the trio of Democrats raised more than $104,000, including funds available from previous elections. The three of them all from different backgrounds hope to succeed and bring change. “I’m very excited about the next three years, Hudak said. “I really am. We have a …
Republicans dominated the Council race, but by how much?
Total voter turnout in Westfield was at 28 percent, with 5,771 voters casting their ballots out of 20,813 registered. Residents voted in favor of allowing sports betting in the state by a vote of 2,461 to 1,780. First Ward Councilman Total District 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Timothy D. Van Epp (D) 88 105 75 105 94 100 46 613 Frank Arena (R) 105 138 116 171 143 86 70 829 Second Ward Councilman JoAnn Neylan (R) 81 158 99 151 201 127 817 Third Ward Councilman Matthew Sontz (D) 46 70 92 90 106 103 110 617 Mark LoGrippo (R) 40 65 52 124 184 123 128 716 Gregory Kasko (I) 26 69 35 33 35 29 33 260 Fourth Ward Councilman Gregory Romer (D) 159 119 112 87 132 609 James Foerst (R) 166 166 160 133 181 806
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
According to Union County, 154,144 were cast.
In the race for Union County Freeholders, unofficial results show Democrat incumbents Angel Estrada and Christopher Hudak are returning to the county post along with newcomer Democrat Vernell Wright. Estrada of Elizabeth has served nearly 12 years on the freeholder board while Hudak of Linden has served for about a year. Wright of Union is a retired public school prinicpal who will be new to the board that has executive oversight over county government. Together the Democrats earned about 99,000 votes according to unofficial results released by Union County Clerk's Office Tuesday night: Their Republican challengers earned about 54,000 votes. It has been about 15 years since a Republican has had a seat on the county board. For the full …
Unofficial results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday show support for existing leadership.
Across New Jersey, all 120 seats all up for grabs — 80 in the state Assembly and all 40 in the Senate. In the 21st District, encompassing Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside, New Providence, Springfield, Summit and Westfield, voters returned all the incumbents to office. No surprises developed Tuesday as Republican State Senator Tom Kean Jr. nearly doubled the votes garnered by his opponent, Democrat Paul Swanicke. According to unofficial results relesed by Union County, Kean earned 18,239 votes, or 66 percent, to Swanicke's 9,518 or 34 percent. Kean, who serves on the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committees, has devoted his career to pushing for ethics reform in the state and has backed legislation to …
Arena, Neylan, LoGrippo and Foerst carry votes — and the party — to control of Council.
Incumbents Frank Arena, JoAnn Neylan, Mark LoGrippo and Jim Foerst led a GOP sweep on the Westfield Council. Foerst, from the Fourth Ward, was elected to his third term, while the Third Ward's LoGrippo, who was appointed to a six-month term in July when Mark Ciarrocca became a judge, was elected for the first time. The midterm elections will team the Republicans from the four wards with Mayor Andy Skibitsky, who also is a Republican, leaving Dave Haas as the Council's lone Democrat. According to unofficial results: Speaking at a post-election celebration, Skibitsky thanked the people of Westfield for their support. "I have a lot of faith in Westfield voters; I know that they're very astute," Skibitsky said. "They look at all the issues. …
But now officials will need to convince a judge to overturn a federal law barring gambling on athletics.
Voters appeared to be overwhelmingly approving a statewide referendum Tuesday that will change the state constitution to enable the legalization of gambling on professional and certain college sporting events — but only if a current federal ban is overturned. The Star Ledger was reporting that with 84 percent of the ballots counted, the measure was winning, 61 percent to 31 percent. The amendment was supported by Oceanport Borough, home of Monmouth Park racetrack, as well as Gov. Chris Christie and State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), who argues that once the referendum is approved, it will only be a matter of months before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is ruled unconstitutional. Lesniak has led the crusade…
Tyler D
8:40 am on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Echoing and agreeing with your sentiments: "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." ~ John Quincy Adams This is also directed at those in the public who would vote "for the lesser of 2 evils" or "because he can't win" or because "anyone but xyz candidate" or any other excuse someone can find to vote for more … more ›