Politics & Government

Sam Della Fera Runs for Re-Election in Ward 1

Find out more about those running for Westfield Town Council.


In the November 5 election, six Westfield residents will be on the ballot for town council seats in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The candidates include: 

Ward 1: Sam Della Fera (R) (no contest)
Ward 2: Vicki Kimmins (R) (no contest)
Ward 3: Matthew Sontz(D) and David Oliveria (R)
Ward 4: John Walsh(D) and Keith Loughlin (R)

Also, Mayor Andy Skibitsky is running for another mayoral term against current councilman, Dave Haas. View your sample ballot.

A debate between the candidates will be held at the Westfield Municipal Building on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Della Fera, who currently serves as one of two councilmen in Ward 1, is running for re-election. Read more about him below. 
 
Check back with Patch for additional candidate profiles throughout the week. 

Name:
  Sam Della Fera, Jr.  
Age: 46
Address: 540 Coleman Place  
Length of Time in Westfield: 17.5 years  
Education: B.A., Penn State University, 1989; J.D., Rutgers Law School - Newark, 1992
Family Life: Married to Sheryl for 20 years; son Stephen, 17 and daughter Samantha, 14, both of whom attend Westfield High School  
Professional Life:  Attorney; managing partner at Trenk, DiPasquale, Della Fera& Sodono, P.C., West Orange, NJ; selected as a NJ Super Lawyer in 2006 and 2008-2013  
Community/Political Activities:  Westfield Soccer Association coach, 2004-2008; member, Westfield Board of Education's Citizens Advisory Committee on Enrollment, 2006; member, Westfield Historic Preservation Commission, 2009; member, Westfield Town Council, 2010 to date   

1. Please list the three most important issues facing Westfield in this election and explain your position on each.  (i) Property taxes – This is a statewide problem, but wherever the town can ease this financial burden on its residents it must strive to do so.  The town controls less than 18% of the spending of our property taxes, but it nonetheless is critical that we continue to scrutinize every dollar we spend and make every effort to control municipal costs, including with respect to staffing, finding alternative revenue sources, and taking advantage of shared services opportunities. (ii) Traffic and pedestrian safety – The town has a high number of pedestrians, including many children walking to our neighborhood schools and residents and visitors who work, shop and dine in our vibrant downtown, as well as many bicyclists.  Through education, engineering and enforcement we can keep cars within speed limits and pedestrians safe in crosswalks and on sidewalks.  Given our financial constraints, cost effective solutions include signage, striping and road narrowing (through medians, e.g.).  (iii) Road surface conditions – Because in the past the town’s capital improvement budget was strained by state cutbacks and other factors, many roads went unpaved.  More recently, however, we have aggressively pursued grants and other funding options to pave problem roads.  Better road conditions add to property values, and promote safer driving for operators of both motor vehicles and bicycles, and so they enhance both pedestrian safety and the quality of life in town.  I will continue to find economically responsible ways to promptly pave those streets that need improvement.  

2. What made you decide to run for another term on Counsel? When I first sought election four years ago, I could only ask First Ward residents to "trust me."  I had no Council record, but among other things I had coached many local children in sports; I had served on the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Enrollment; and I was committed to being a responsive representative in Town government.  Four years later, I can confidently say that the trust that First Ward residents placed in me has been rewarded. Over the past four years, Westfield has faced substantial and sometimes unprecedented financial challenges:  the loss of millions in State aid; the State-imposed two percent cap on annual property tax levy increases; and a substantial decline in property values resulting in the loss of millions in tax revenues, to name a few.  It was the perfect storm of economic dilemmas, and then the weather literally got worse.  Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy, damaging autumn nor’easters and snow storms, and a 2010 blizzard that dropped three feet of snow the day after Christmas all battered our infrastructure and strained our resources. Yet, Westfield is in better financial and physical shape today than it was four years ago.  Our 2013 budget was lower than in 2009; municipal salaries and wages are below 2005 levels; our streets are safer, and many of them have been repaved; we acquired vital police and firefighting equipment to protect people and property; our downtown is thriving; high school parking has been addressed; and we are closer to one-seat train service to New York City. Our success was achieved by the leadership, foresight and hard work of Mayor Skibitsky and the Town Council.  As chair of the Council's Finance Policy Committee, I played an important role in those efforts and in achieving the favorable results described above.  Our municipal debt remains low, our credit rating is high, and our future is bright.  I would like to continue to use my talents for the benefit of our great town. That is why I am again seeking the privilege of serving First Ward residents.

3. Is there anything else you would like to add? It has been both my pleasure and my privilege to represent the people of the First Ward on the Westfield Town Council.  Westfield continues to be the envy of other communities.  We are a desirable place to live and raise a family, and a premier destination in the region for shopping, dining and entertainment.  My family and I have been proud to call Westfield our home for more than 17 years.  We enjoy its excellent school system, its vibrant and award-winning downtown and its charming neighborhoods.  As a member of the Town Council, my focus has been, and will continue to be, to protect and preserve our exceptional quality of life. With the ongoing assistance of Mayor Skibitsky, Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins and Councilman Keith Loughlin, and with the hopeful addition of David Oliveira to the Town Council, I know that we can continue to meet the challenges that lie ahead and keep Westfield both financially secure and a wonderful place to live and to raise a family.  Our success to date has been a team effort, and I ask that the residents of the First Ward and all of Westfield support me and the entire Mayor Skibitsky team on November 5th.


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