GOP Sweeps Westfield Wards

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:

• In the First Ward, Republican Frank Arena earned 829 votes against Democratic challenger Timothy Van Epp's 613 votes.
• In the Second Ward, uncontested Republican JoAnn Neylan earned 817 votes. Five votes were cast for write-ins.
• In the Third Ward, Republican Mark LoGrippo earned 716 votes against Democratic challenger Matthew Sontz's 617 votes and Independent challenger Greg Kasko's 260 votes.
• In the Fourth Ward, Republican Jim Foerst earned 806 votes against Democratic challenger Greg Romer with 609 votes and one write-in.

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. They read and learn. They grill you when you're going door-to-door but at the end of the day, they make the right choice and today they made it."

Arena spoke next and thanked Westfield residents and legislators Senator Tom Kean Jr. and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, noting that Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz lives "close by." All three earned victories Tuesday.

"Definitely our victories here tonight were made much easier by having them at the top of the ticket," said Arena. "It is so refreshing to have the leadership like we have that lives in Westfield and down in Trenton making things right for our state."

Neylan, who was celebrating her 25th weddding anniversary, thanked her husband and daughter and noted that her campaign was not a typical one as she ran unopposed.

Foerst, who was elected for the first time in 2003, said it has been a pleasure serving for the past eight years and he is looking forward to another four.

While the Democrats agreed they were disappointed by the election results, Democratic vice-chairwoman Janice Siegel said the party remains "hopeful."

"We thought we had a some important issues to elucidate," Siegel said. "Safety, fire, police, crossing guards, the traffic light on Central Avenue. These things are important to the people of Westfield. We had a message and I think we delivered it. What we do in this town is important because it makes our government honest. There has to be scrutiny. We were hopeful going in to tonight and we're still hopeful."

Democratic chairman Haas agreed and said he hopes that the safety issues discussed during the campaign will move the town toward a better resolution.