Wednesday, July 13, 2011
New third ward councilman asked to address ward's most controversial issues minutes after taking office.
No sooner than Councilman Mark LoGrippo had taken his seat on the Town Council Tuesday evening then he was plunged into taking a public position on the most controversial issues in the third ward that he now represents. LoGrippo was formally appointed Tuesday night by a unanimous Council vote to fill the remaining six months of former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca’s term. Ciarrocca resigned last week following his confirmation by the state Senate as a state Superior Court judge. LoGrippo, the preferred candidate of the town’s Republican organization, was appointed over Board of Adjustment members William West and Maryalice Ryan, who were also submitted by the town GOP to comply with a state law requiring three nominees. LoGrippo is facing off …
Monday, July 11, 2011
Town Council to formally make appointment Tuesday night.
Third Ward Republicans picked Planning Board member Mark LoGrippo over Downtown Westfield Corporation board member Diane Barabas to fill the Town Council seat left vacant by former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca’s confirmation as a state judge. Republicans made the pick – expected by political observers since the two finalists’ names were disclosed last week – during a meeting Sunday night at the Gardens home of Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, the town’s GOP chairman. LoGrippo is scheduled to be formally appointed to the seat by the Town Council during a meeting Tuesday night at 8 p.m. in the Municipal Building. He will also fill Ciarrocca’s spot on the November ballot. Bramnick declined to discuss the specifics of the committee’s internal workings …
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Republicans to pick replacement for third ward councilman.
Third ward residents will have a new councilman in the coming weeks as the state Senate confirmed Councilman Mark Ciarrocca's nomination as a judge of the state Superior Court Wednesday night. Ciarrocca will likely resign in the coming weeks in order to assume his judgeship. The resignation comes with six months remaining in Ciarrocca's second term on the Council. No timetable for his resignation has been announced. Ciarrocca's confirmation by the full Senate was an almost forgone conclusion following his unanimous confirmation by the Senate judiciary committee following a 10-minute hearing Wednesday morning. The full Senate vote came as part of Senate action on a slew of nominations submitted by Christie in the final days of the annual …
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Councilman says he'll remain in office pending Senate action.
Councilman Mark Ciarrocca has dropped his bid for a third term in order to focus on being confirmed as a state Superior Court Judge. Ciarrocca, who represents the third ward, made the announcement during a press conference Tuesday evening hours after his judicial nomination was announced by Gov. Chris Christie. Ciarrocca had been seeking reelection in a three-way race against Democrat Matt Sontz and Independent Greg Kasko. “I am not going to run for reelection. The reason for that, with the uncertainty of the nomination and the rest of the process, I don’t think it would be fair to the voters of the third ward,” Ciarrocca said. “If I can’t commit to knowing that I will be able to serve the voters of the third ward I think it would be …
40.654398
-74.345433
Westfield Municipal Building
425 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ
/articles/ciarrocca-drops-reelection-bid-to-focus-on-judicial-confirmation
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/locations/4813307
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Independent candidate to face off with Republican Councilman Ciarrocca and Democrat Sontz.
- OPINION
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Thursday, June 16, 2011
To the Editor, I have lived in Westfield for 38 years and believe Westfield is a wonderful community in which to live and raise a family. I believe that all elected and appointed officials should be held accountable for their actions and that truth and transparency are paramount to maintain the trust of the voters. Truth and transparency are goals which I strived to achieve as a Westfield police officer, a position from which I retired in good standing, in 2007. I have on a number of occasions, attempted to speak to the Mayor with suggestions concerning improvements to the government of Westfield. Each time I was rebuffed by him and I realized that facts and figures are far less important than one’s personal status in the eyes of some …
Monday, June 13, 2011
Town administrator said police have started process after 90 days have passed.
Analysis of the pedestrian activated stoplight on Central Avenue remains ongoing in the Westfield Police Department. Town officials made the announcement during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, when questioned by resident Adina Enclescu, who owns the property where the light was placed. Enclescu questioned the Council do to 90 days passing since the light became operational. Mayor Andy Skibitsky said the town would analyze the light’s placement after the 90-day period expired. Town Administrator Jim Gildea said the police department is conducting the analysis, but did not say what the time frame is for the analysis. Clarifying a question from Enclescu, he said the Council’s public safety committee is not involved in the analysis process. …
40.63845
-74.32351
Central Ave & Clover St, Westfield, NJ
/articles/central-and-clover-light-evaluation-continues
/locations/4590189
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Retired police officer active on Central Avenue stop light issue.
Third ward voters will have three choices for Town Council in the November election as a retired police officer who has been an active opponent of the town government has filed as an independent candidate. Greg Kasko, who retired from the Police Department following a disciplinary hearing several years ago, will face off against Republican incumbent Mark Ciarrocca and Democratic candidate Matt Sontz for the four-year term. Kasko is the first independent candidate to run in Westfield in several years. He is one of eight independent candidates to file Tuesday for local office across Union County, according to the county clerk's office. Tuesday was the last day to file as an independent candidate in the November election. Kasko's candidacy …
Jay Stevens
1:49 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2011
Congrats Councilman! Westfield should be proud to have such a large group of dedicated public servants! more ›