Politics & Government

Democrats Release Ticket Details, Explain Neylan Decision

Haas said candidate could not be found to oppose second ward councilwoman.

Westfield Democrats have released of their three candidates for the Town Council, along with explaining the decision to leave Second Ward Councilwoman Joann Neylan unopposed.

Councilman David Haas, the town’s Democratic chairman, said that the party was unable to find a candidate to run for the second ward seat against the Republican Neylan. Neylan, who is seeking a third term, is running in a ward that has not elected a Democrat.

“I think that it is always good to have competitive races, it helps both candidates,” Haas said. “It makes for more responsive government in general. I would love to have a candidate in the second ward.”

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This is the second consecutive race where Democrats have declined to put up a challenge in the second ward. In 2009, former Democratic mayoral nominee Carolyn Klinger-Kueter against Republican Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins, leaving Kimmins in her bid for a second term.

First Ward

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In the first ward, Democrat Tim Van Epp will challenge Republican Councilman Frank Arena, who is seeking a second term.

Van Epp’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Duke University and a master’s degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania in ecology planning. He has 30 years experience in environmental planning and management issues.

Haas said that Van Epp has worked on the sustainable community plan in Woodbridge and in planning capacities for Paterson, Rahway and Newark. He is a member of the and he and his wife have a daughter who graduated from Princeton University and now works for Pfizer and a daughter who is a student at Westfield High School.

Arena was first elected to the Town Council in 2007. He works in information technology sales in New York and is the chairman of the public works committee. Arena has served as a board member of the Downtown Westfield Corporation and has been active in downtown economic issues during his tenure.

Arena unsuccessfully sought a seat on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2004. He and his wife have two children who are students in the public schools.

Third Ward

In the third ward, Democrat Matt Sontz is seeking a rematch against Republican Councilman Mark Ciarrocca. Ciarrocca defeated Sontz by a two to one margin in 2007.

Sontz holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a law degree from Rutgers. He currently works as a construction litigation attorney with a firm in Bridgewater.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Sontz worked as a mechanical engineer for the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy. Haas said that Sontz held NATO security clearance while working for the Defense Department.

Sontz is a member of the Union County Democratic Committee and has served as a member of the Union County Construction Board of Appeals since 2007. He and his wife have two young children, one of whom is a student at Jefferson School.

Ciarrocca is currently serving his second term on the Town Council. He was first elected in 2003, defeating Haas, who had been serving an appointive term following the resignation of former Councilman Kevin Walsh. Ciarrocca, an attorney, is the chairman of the finance committee and a former chairman of the public safety committee. He serves as the town’s acting mayor. He and his wife have two sons, one a student at Wake Forest University and the other a student at Edison Intermediate School.

Fourth Ward

In the fourth ward, Democrat Greg Romer is opposing Republican Councilman Jim Foerst in his bid for a third term.

Romer holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Seton Hall University and a master’s degree in computer science from the Polytechnic Institute at New York University. He is a senior director of emerging technology at McGraw Hill and previously worked in finance for UBS.  Haas said that Romer and his wife have two daughters.

Foerst was first elected to the Town Council in 2003 and currently serves as the chairman of the code review committee. He is a long time member of the town’s planning board, where he is the Council representative. An attorney, Foerst serves as the Republican state committeeman for Union County. He and his wife have two young children.


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