Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 29, 2014 OUR 124th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 22-2014 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Voters to Decide Races For Congress, Garwood Mayor By PAUL J. PEYTON since 1999, has represented Fanwood, Larsen. Mr. Larsen previously chal- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Plainfield and most of Scotch Plains lenged Mr. Lance in 2010 and 2012 REGION — Voters will go to the the past two years since redistricting in the strong Republican district. polls this Tuesday, June 3, to decide after the 2010 U.S. Census moved In the race for United States Sen- competitive Primary Election races the towns to the 12th District. State ate, there is a four-candidate race in in both the 12th and 7th Congres- Senator Linda Greenstein (D-14th, the Republican Primary between Jeff sional Districts and in the Republi- Middlesex), Assemblywoman Bell of Leonia, who was the party’s can Primary Election for United States Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-15th, candidate for Senate in 1978 and Senate. There is also a mayor’s race Mercer) and Assemblyman Upendra who recently moved back to New in Garwood (see story on this page), Chivukula (D-17th, Somerset) are Jersey from Virginia in order to run; and races for Union County surro- joined in the race by Andrew Zwicker, businessman Brian Goldberg of West gate and county freeholders. a physicist and science educator at Orange, former Army Reserves ma- In the 12th Congressional race, Princeton University. The winner will jor turned businessman Richard three state lawmakers and a Princeton face Republican Alieta Eck, a medi- Pezzullo of Freehold, and Ramapo University scientist are running in cal doctor, in the November General College professor Murray Sabrin of the Democratic Primary seeking to Election. Fort Lee. The winner will face U.S. succeed retiring Rep. Rush Holt (D) In the 7th District, three-term Rep. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) for a in the strong Democratic district. Mr. Leonard Lance (R) is being chal- full six-year term. Holt, who has served in Congress lenged again by businessman David Also of interest on Tuesday is the GOP mayoral Primary in Garwood between first-term Mayor Patricia Quattrocchi and first-time candidate Sal Piarulli, who is being supported by outspoken Councilman Jim Horace R. Corbin for The Westfield Leader Mathieu. Mr. Mathieu, who was the AMERICAN MADE...The Westfield community shows its pride on Monday as Marines escort veteran and Grand Marshal mayor’s running mate in 2010, has John “Chick” Miller during the Memorial Day Parade held in downtown Westfield. been at odds with the mayor and her husband, John, who heads the local GOP committee, almost since he Lance Discusses Primary joined the council in 2011. Mr. Mathieu is running on a line of can- didates, which include himself and his wife, to challenge Mr. Challenge, VA, Obamacare Quattrocchi’s candidates, including By PAUL J. PEYTON Larsen did not endorse him for re- He also noted that Mr. Larsen has himself and the mayor, for seats on Specially Written for The Westfield Leader election in either of those campaigns called himself a “Reagan Republi- the local Republican Committee. WESTFIELD — Rep. Leonard after the Congressman won the Pri- can,” but the Congressman said his Other Primary races in the county Lance (R-7th) commented this week mary elections and that Mr. Larsen opponent did not vote for President include mayoral Primaries in Berke- on both his Primary Election race has said he will not this year either. Reagan in 1980 or 1984, because ley Heights, where incumbent GOP next week as well as issues ranging By contrast, Mr. Lance said he “has Mr. Larsen did not vote in those Mayor Joseph Bruno is being chal- from the Veterans’ Affairs Depart- always supported the Republican elections. The Congressman said lenged by Councilman Robert Woo- ment scandal, the national debt and Party and will always support the he voted for and campaigned for Brooks Crandall for The Westfield Leader druff, and in Rahway, where Demo- the Patient Protection and Afford- Republican Party,” and will “en- President Reagan in both elections. ATTENTION…Kerry Stubbs sings “God Bless America” at the opening cer- cratic Mayor Samson D. Steinman, able Care Act/Obamacare during dorse the entire Republican ticket “I think it’s extraordinary to call emony of the Westfield Memorial Day Parade on Monday. the township administrator in Hill- an interview at the offices of The this year from top to bottom.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 side, faces a challenge from political Westfield Leader on Friday. consultant Jim Devine. Mr. Steinman For the third time in the last four Control of GW GOP Panel, became mayor last year when Rick years, the Congressman faces a Garwood Council Considers Proctor resigned. challenge from businessman David Linden will see a three-way Demo- Larsen, who Mr. Lance defeated in Mayor’s Seat on Tap Tuesday cratic mayoral Primary race between 2010 and 2012. He said regarding Eminent Domain Provision By BRIAN TRUSDELL the eight-seat borough party com- a Democratic committeeman in the the challenge that he “takes noth- By BRIAN TRUSDELL The disclosure came as he encour- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Specially Written for The Westfield Leader mittee. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ing for granted.” He noted that Mr. aged the council Tuesday night to in- GARWOOD – It is an intraparty It comes down to Mayor Patricia GARWOOD – Borough planner clude an eminent domain provision in brawl that is unusual not only for the Quattrocchi and her husband, John, Victor Vinegratold the borough coun- a resolution that would direct the plan- level, but its intensity. the Garwood Republican Committee SP Learns Capital Budget cil Tuesday night that a private devel- ning board to conduct an “in need of The fight for control of the chairman, versus Councilman Jim oper has entered into contracts with the development” study for two properties Garwood Republican Committee has Mathieu and mayoral candidate Sal owners of the Garwood Paperboard on South Avenue, including Petro Plas- involved a mayoral Primary chal- Piarulli. Defeated By One Vote plant on North Avenue and the Petro tics, saying it provides leverage and lenge and seen no fewer than a half Initially, when Mr. Piarulli an- By FRED T. ROSSI cluding those related to police and fire Plastics building on South Avenue to flexibility. dozen letters from at least four com- nounced his candidacy for mayor, he Specially Written for The Westfield Leader safety, have been indefinitely put on overhaul the largely abandoned indus- Mr. Vinegra said that in the hundreds batants to The Westfield Leader edi- said he was not affiliated with Mr. SCOTCH PLAINS — After a roll hold for the foreseeable future,” Mr. trial sites. of parcels of land included in projects torial page over the past month, in- Mathieu. But within a week, he was call in which three of its five members Giaimis said. Mr. Vinegra, who is also Garwood’s he has worked on, only two in his 30 cluding one from Democrat Council- on the Tuesday, June 3 Primary bal- voted affirmatively, the township coun- Police Chief Brian Mahoney told zoning code official and an engineer years have been seized under eminent man Bill Nierstedt, jousting with lot, not only challenging Mrs. cil last week believed that its $1.5- The Leader that with his department’s with Harbor Consultants in Cranford, domain. Hesaid including the author- barbs, accusations and one-liners. Quattrocchi for mayor, but also listed million capital bond ordinance had been operating budget being cut over the did not identify the developer or give ity to seize private property provides “I find it unusual, a (contested) with his wife, Linda Morello-Piarulli, passed and that the process of purchas- past several years, the capital budget other details except to say it was a the borough with the ability to find new Primary for committee people,” said and Mr. Mathieu and his wife, Liz, as ing a variety of new equipment and has become a funding source for his “large-scale project” and that no real developers if the one under contract Roger Stryeski, the chairman of the four of six candidates for the eight technology and financing remediation department’s more significant pur- estate has changed hands. runs into trouble or difficulty and can Roselle Republican Party and a Re- seats of the GOP committee. efforts at the former Terry-Lou Zoo chases. This year, the police “They’re looking to begin a conver- not finish, or if a property has multiple publican strategist. “Usually, you “I am with Jim. Jim’s been a great property could get under way. department’s requests included some sation with Garwood to make that a owners and one or more “gets cold can’t get people interested. Most vot- friend, and great for the campaign,” Except that, despite the 3-to-2 vote new vehicles, upgrades to its informa- redevelopment area and a redevelop- feet” after negotiations have reached ers don’t know what committee said Mr. Piarulli. “I met him when he with the “ayes” prevailing, the ordi- tion technology software and mobile ment zone,” Mr. Vinegra said. “That an advanced stage. people do. Most times, you have to was out campaigning four years ago. nance did not actually pass because no computers for squad cars. Mr. Mahoney includes both of the properties on the The suggestion drew an immediate look for candidates to run.” He’s been an ally to the campaign.