Westfieid Parking Deck Is Defeated Soundly •Ywmd Favor of the Project
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ID •0 •r-t O * t£ I o a- or- i—j o ttBB Serving Westfieid, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Vol. 19, No. + - Friday, November 5,2004 50 cents Westfieid parking deck is defeated soundly •yWMD favor of the project. McOermott said of the referendum results. the council, most local officials had exprc—od THE RECORD-PRESS About 79 percent of voters rejected the "... I never expected it to be like this. I their support. project and the corresponding parking plan, thought it would be much closer." But that was no match for public opposi- WESTFTELD — After years of argu- which would have increased the costs of "I don't think anyone expected it," agreed tion, spurred on by determined group of res- ments, presentations, proposals, and acrimo- parking permits and on- Sherry Cronin, director of idents who challenged studies that support- ny, more than 15,000 voters took the oppor- street parking meter rates. "~~~~^~~~ the Downtown Westfieid ed the project's feasibility, canvassed neigh- tunity to weigh in on the town's proposed $10 About 75 percent of the Corporation. "We had to borhoods, set up information booths at pubUc million redevelopment project and parking town's registered voters */ never expected it to state our position and events, and set up Vote no" signs in ail four deck. cast ballots in Tuesday's be tike this. I thought it defend the merits of the wards. The result was startling. It wasn't even hotly anticipated election, would be much closer." plan, but people just didn't "Obviously, the people who were against it close. though only about 62 per- want it- did a better job of marketing," McDermott By an overwhelming margin, residents cent voted on the referen- — Greg McDermott Over the course of tlie said. voted against the Town Council's proposal to dum question. final weeks leading up to "(Residents) made a statement that they construct a 490-space parking deck and Despite the fact that the referendum was the vote, the council endorsed a financing are not ready for additional (parking) capac- retail and residential units on municipal legally non-binding, indications were that plan and assembled an informational ity," he added. parking lots between Prospect and Elm the overwhelming statement made by voters brochure that was mailed out to residents; Opposition to the town's efforts to build streets, At the end of the night, 9,865 resi- would effectively close the book on the coun- the DWC put out another glossy mailing that parking structures has been steady, but a dents voted against the public question, com- cil's redevelopment project and parking plan. unequivocally supported the deck. Though pared to only 2,700 voters who cast ballots in That's a little shocking," Mayor Greg there were a few vocal critics of the project on (Continued on page A-2) Democrats prevail in Fanwood race Swwor team captain Mike DiNino By MAD •WHOP For her part, Mitchell said she caught two passes for 59 yards in THE RECORD-PRESS was delighted to hear the news the Raiders' 23-12 victory over and excited to represent the resi- Linden Saturday to keep Scotch FANWOOD — For the second dents of Fanwood for another Ptains-Fanwood's playoff hopes straight year, borough three years. alive. See Sports, Page C-1. Democrats were victorious on "I would like to say thank you Election Day, as incumbents to the voters for have placed Katharine Mitchell and Joe their trust in me," Mitchell said. Higgins won three-year terms on "It's a great honor...I will do my the Borough Council. best." By a comfortable majority, Mitchell said she viewed the Higgins and Mitchell defeated election results as confirmation Republican challengers Joel that borough residents support Stroz and Maureen Mawby. the Democrats' policies on taxes, Their victory leaves the council redevelopment, and "having an in the control of the Democrats, open policy" by holding public who currently hold the mayor's forums to resolve contentious seat and a 4-2 advantage on the issues. council. "I view it as a mandate on Mitchell led the way by receiv- what Colleen has done in the ing 2,008 votes, and Higgins past year with the downtown nearly matched her by receiving and obtaining the extraordinary 1,939 votes in a race for two aid (to balance the 2004 munici- KEN VAN PELT/CORRESPONDENT council seats. For the Scotch Plains Itayor Martin lurks accepts upportsr after leemta* he had pal budget)," Mitchell said. won resiectton Tbesday night. Republicans, Mawby received "I had an indication that what 1,610 votes and Stroz garnered I've bee"n "doing for the past year 1,582. A large the voters of number of absen- "/ view it as a mandate Fanwood agree SP Republicans jreiain control tee ballots with," said an remained to be on what (the mayor) has ecstatic Mahr. "I How can you make sum you'll see your counted as of done in the past year want to thank spouse when you both bad hectic Tuesday night, the voters for lives ? Volunteer for the local rescue of mayor's seat, town council but not enough with the downtown and keeping Joe and squad. That's what Sean and Riva to potentially obtaining the extraordi- Kathy on the Waller of Westfiekt did. for their story, By MAD I securing a vote of confidence from residents once change the elec- council and turn to Page A-4. THE RECORD-PRESS again, Marks announced that his coming term as tion results. nary aid." mayor would be his last. keeping our The victors — Kathleen Mitchell progress moving SCOTCH PLAINS — Republicans fought off a This is my last mayoral campaign," he said. "(At nervously calcu- challenge by local Democrats in Tuesday's election, the end of the term) I will have served nine years forward." retaining the mayor's seat and full control of the la ted the precinct ballot tally Mahr pledged to continue as mayor and 12 years on the council." Marks said with Assemblywoman Linda holding open forums on redevel- Township Council. he wants to devote more time to his family once he Stender at Borough Hall opment and said she would pur- In a community that narrowly went for John concludes more than a decade of stewardship over Tuesday night, cheering and sue any avenue available to keep Kerry in the presidential race and has a higher the township. embracing each other when the property taxes at a minimum for number of registered Democrats than Republicans, The contentious campaign was fought primarily results were announced. borough homeowners. the local GOP continued to thrive. In the mayor's on two fronts, as Democrats blamed an 18-point tax "It's incredible," said Higgins, Redevelopment and taxes race, incumbent Martin Marks claimed 55 percent increase in 2003 on the Republican leadership and who was appointed to the council were the two most hotly-debated of the vote, defeating Democrat Andy Baron by a advocated volunteer-based programs rather than a earlier this year to replace issues during the campaign. count of 5,780 to 4,703. special tax to revitalize the downtown. Michael Brennan, who had Democrats touted their record of Incumbent Paulette Coronato defeated chal- Republicans said the tax-increase was caused by resigned. passing a small tax increase on lenger Barbara Baldasarre, taking 53 percent of increases in non-discretionary spending and called "I owe it to all the people in to voters during the budget the ballots cast for the council seat. Coronato for broader reform in New Jersey's method of fund- there," he said, pointing to process. They also said pausing Children sbtok received 5,428 votes and Baldasarre garnered ing local government services. They also defended Stender, Mayor Colleen Mahr, the borough's downtown redevel- 4,824. their decision to propose the creation of a special and a host of volunteers who opment process to build a broad- is ml9hty flno The victory gives the GOP the mayor's seat for improvement district for the downtown. The coun- anxiously awaited the official er consensus was the right deci- His Finest Hour Is the latest work another four years, and Republicans will continue cil voted down the idea after downtown stakehold- announcement. sion to make before proceeding. from children's book author David to occupy all five seats on the township council. ers mobilized against the assessments that would Higgins, who chairs the bor- The Republicans argued the Neuhaus, a Fanwood resident For Tuesday night was far sweeter for Marks than have been necessary to fund the downtown man- ough's Downtown Advisory redevelopment process was mov- the story on Neuhaus and his work, last year's election, when he ran a competitive but agement entity. Committee, attributed his suc- ing too slowly, depriving the bor- see Page B~ I unsuccessful campaign for the state Senate in the Marks, an advocate for a state constitutional cess to a veteran running mate ough of needed commercial rata- 22nd district. In that election he was the underdog, convention to reform the property tax system, said who was elected to a third term bles to offset the property tax while this year's race carried the pressure of being he was glad the township debated the tax issue so on the council. burden. They also disagreed with the favorite. vigorously during the campaign. "I can't tell you how many the Democrat-led council's deci- "When you are an incumbent, the expectations *T hope the debate over property taxes stays times I knocked on somebody's sion to balance the budget by are a lot greater," he said.