Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 30, 2014 OUR 124th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 44-2014 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS U.S. Senate, House, Sheriff, CF, GW Races On Ballot Tuesday By PAUL J. PEYTON Mayor Pat Quattrocchi in the June the campaign. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Primary, will face former 21-year Six candidates are battling for three REGION – Voters will go to the Democratic Councilman Charles seats on the Scotch Plains Township polls on Tuesday to make their choices Lombardo, who is employed by the Council, where Republicans hold a for United States Senate, Congress, County of Union, in the mayor’s race. 3-to-2 edge. A potential merger of Union County Sheriff and Board of In the race for three seats on the the Scotch Plains and Fanwood po- Chosen Freeholders as well as a borough Council, incumbent Demo- lice departments, and battles over the mayor’s race in Garwood and town crats Sara Todisco and Lou Petruzzelli capital budget, which failed to get the council races in Cranford, Garwood face a challenge from Republicans necessary four votes for passage on and Scotch Plains. There are no com- Tina Simitz, vice-president of a mar- two occasions, are among the issues petitive elections in Fanwood and keting agency in Morristown, and in the race. Incumbent Republicans Mountainside and there is not any Carol Kearney, owner of a local travel William Vastine, Michael Marcus, municipal election in Westfield this agency who ran for council in 2011. who switched parties after running as year. Democrats hold a four to two edge on a Democrat four years ago, and In Garwood, Republican Sal the council. Delays in the completion Llewellyn Jones, who was elected to Piarulli, a self-employed marketing of the Athletic Field Complex and an unexpired council term last year, consultant who defeated first-term borough taxes are among the issues in are being challenged by Democrats John Del Sordi, Jr., an official with a carpenters’ union; Rose Checchio, co-owner of several day care centers, and Luisa Bianco, who is a depart- ment manager with AT&T. In neighboring Fanwood, incum- bent Democratic Councilmen Russell Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader Huegel and Kevin Boris are unop- WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS…This family chose The Wizard of Oz as their Halloween costume theme for Sunday’s posed in their reelection bids. Demo- Halloween Parade, sponsored by the Optimist Club of Westfield, and costume contest, sponsored by the Downtown crats hold all six seats on the borough Westfield Corp. council and the mayor’s office. In Cranford, Republican Township Committee incumbents Andis Garwood Council Cands. Kalnins, who is serving as mayor this year, and Lisa M. Adubato, who is deputy mayor, face a challenge from Democrats Brian McCarthy, a infor- Answer Ques. at Forum mation technology specialist, and By BRIAN TRUSDELL forum, defending previous votes or ment at all,” said Mr. Petruzzelli, the Robert V. Salvatore, who works for a Specially Written for The Westfield Leader campaign statements and at times council’s liaison on the project. major retail chain. GARWOOD – Candidates for bor- even agreeing with one another. Ms. Todisco similarly defended her Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader Taxes, flood mitigation, the Union ough council faced off at The Pointe The format was similar to the may- vote for the AFC, which she said she TRICK OR TREAT…. This young witch enjoys Sunday’s Halloween Parade, County College field project and the condominium complex like their oral event a week earlier, with the considers a “recreation complex” sponsored by the Optimist Club of Westfield, and costume contest, sponsored position of township engineer are mayoral counterparts, but without candidates taking turns responding to since it will be available to everyone, by the Downtown Westfield Corp. among the issues in the race. Repub- much of the rancor of the debate previously submitted questions and from children to senior citizens. licans currently hold a 4-to-1 major- between the executive hopefuls. eventually from the floor. “Although I am proud to say I sup- Four Cranford Candidates ity on the committee after sweeping Both incumbent Democrats Sara Ms. Todisco, a social studies teacher port the project, I can say that I’m municipal races in the 2013 election Todisco and Lou Petruzzelli and Re- in Chatham, and Mr. Petruzzelli, completely frustrated by the delays to pick up two seats. publican challengers Tina Simitz and owner of an electrical contracting as residents are, as Councilman Square Off on Local Issues At the county level, the key race Carol Kearney faced awkward ques- business, were put on the defensive Petruzzelli is as liaison, and I just CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 tions and moments at the October 23 with the first question when debate want this done,” she said. By CHRISTINA M. HINKE officer has helped to control taxes as moderator and Pointe communica- Mrs. Simitz criticized the decision Specially Written for The Westfield Leader well as she and Mr. Kalnins working tions chairman William Connolly re- to not put such an expenditure out for CRANFORD – A debate was held closely with the officer and the town- AFC to Be Done In Nov., ferred to the still uncompleted Ath- a voter referendum, calling it over Thursday for two open seats on the ship administrator. In her opening re- letic Field Complex (AFC) as a “$3- budget from the initial cost projec- Cranford Township Committee. Re- marks, Ms. Adubato said, “Cranford million embarrassment.” tion of $2.1 million in 2007 and blam- publican incumbents Mayor Andis this year had the lowest tax increase of Ariemma Suit Settled Both rejected the characterization, ing it for increasing the borough’s Kalnins and Deputy Mayor Lisa all municipalities in Union County. with Mr. Petruzzelli essentially blam- debt 66 percent. Adubato and Democratic candidates Our municipal tax increase this year By BRIAN TRUSDELL cuss a draft of the ordinance that will ing the 18-month completion delay Ms. Todisco disputed the phrase Robert Salvatore and Brian McCarthy was 0.5 percent, which translates to Specially Written for The Westfield Leader establish the regulations for use of the on the contractor, Flanagan Construc- “over budget,” saying “things change” answered questions posed by Cranford about $4 per household.” GARWOOD – The long-delayed complex. Council President Ann tion, and rules that require the gov- and also saying the AFC was 36 per- residents who attended the debate at Mr. McCarthy said fellow Democrat Athletic Field Complex will be com- Tarantino noted that the ordinance will ernment accept the lowest bidder. cent of the borough’s debt. the municipal building and asked by Commissioner Tom Hannen, Jr. was pleted by the end of November, Mayor officially rename the park on the south “I don’t think it’s an embarrass- Ms. Kearney, the owner of a travel moderator Dawn Clarke of the League “at the forefront of putting the full-time Pat Quattrocchi announced at Tuesday’s side of town bordering Cranford the agency, and Mrs. Simitz, a marketing of Women Voters. CFO into position.” council meeting, and will be officially Garwood Sports and Recreation Com- executive, had their own uneasy mo- Each candidate began the debate with Ms. Adubato rebutted, asking her opened for use Sunday, December 14. plex. Westfield Taxes Due ment shortly thereafter when Mr. a three-minute opening remark period, opponents, “With all due respect to Mayor Quattrocchi said project con- The announcement regarding the ath- WESTFIELD — The office of Connolly had them address the split followed by a question-and-answer Commissioner Hannen, and he is not tractor Flanagan Construction informed letic field brought smiles and plaudits the Westfield tax collector will be among the Garwood Republicans, period and finalized with a two-minute running tonight, and it is only fair to her earlier in the day of the expected from several members on council, open on Monday, November 3, asking why they were not campaign- closing statement. voters that you talk about your accom- completion, without specifying a date. clearly happy to see the project nearing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for the ing together as a team. On the issue of controlling taxes, Mr. plishments and how you would move Councilman Lou Petruzzelli, the li- an end 18 months after it was sched- collection of property taxes. The Mrs. Simitz noted she has worked Salvatore and Mr. McCarthy said taxes forward with the town.” aison to the council on the matter, said uled to be finished. last date to pay without a penalty is with Republican mayoral hopeful Sal last year were offset by surplus and Mr. Kalnins said, “We decreased the the reason for waiting an extra two But it also sparked tense moments on Monday, November 10. The Piarulli and deferred to Ms. Kearney they had concerns about depleting those use of surplus.” He added that the town- weeks before holding a ribbon-cutting among residents during the public com- municipal building will be closed to explain her campaign. funds. Mr. Salvatore and Mr. McCarthy ship had successful negotiations with ceremony was “wiggle room” to allow ment portion of the work session, indi- on Tuesday, November 11, in ob- “I made it very clear from day one also said the surplus was put in place unions this year. for obtaining all the necessary permits cating the sharp divide and raw emo- servance of Veterans’ Day, and in- that I was going to run my own cam- prior to their opponents being voted On where to allocate the reserve and inspections, particularly a health tions among some regarding the $3.2- terest will be charged beginning on paign,” Ms.