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Election 2007 Coverage

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The Races:
District 20
State Senate
- Linda Gagliano (R)
- Ray Lesniak (D)
General Assembly
- Neil Cohen (D)
- Joseph Cryan (D)
District 21
State Senate
- Tom Kean Jr. (R)
- Gina Genovese (D)
General Assembly
- Jon Bramnick (R)
- Eric Munoz (R)
- Norman Albert (D)
- Bruce Bergen (D)
- Ryan Reyes (G)
- George DeCarlo (G)
District 22
State Senate
- Rose McConnell (R)
- Nicholas Scutari (D)
General Assembly
- Bryan DesRochers (R)
- Robert Gatto (R)
- Jerry Green (D)
- Linda Stender (D)
County Freeholders
- Patricia Quattrocchi (R)
- John Russitano Jr. (R)
- Robert Reilly (R)
- Daniel Sullivan (D)
- Bette Jane Kowalski (D)
 - Rayland Van Blake (D)
 - Adrian Mapp
- Becky McHugh
 - George O'Grady
County Sheriff
- Peter Lijoii (R)
- Ralph Froehlich (D)
- Charles Mitchell Sr.
Westfield Council
First Ward
- Frank Arena (R)
- Ross Katz (D)
Second Ward
- Jo Ann Neylan (R)
- Bruce Regenstreich (D)
Third Ward
- Mark Ciarrocca (R)
- Matt Sontz (D)
Fourth Ward
- James Foerst (R)
- Lenore Scurry (D)
Fanwood Mayor
- Colleen Mahr (D)
Fanwood Council
- Anthony Parenti (R)
- Joel Stroz (R)
- Katherine Mitchell (D)
- William Populus (D)
Garwood Council
- Anthony Sytko (R)
- Dennis Clark (R)
- Charles Lombardo (D)
- Stephen Napolitano (D)
Mountainside Mayor
- Robert Viglianti (R)
Mountainside Council
- Glenn Mortimer (R)
- Jeffrey Wass (R)
  goleader.com Election Coverage 2007
Election Day is Tuesday, November 6
8 pm. - The Polls Are Closed
 See Unofficial Voting Tallies Below Refresh your browser Last updated 10 Dec 2007 01:57:01 PM 
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Results (pdf): 2007StateData: State Senate, State Assembly, Ballot Questions, Union County 

NJ State Legislature (Terms: Senate is 4-year, Assembly is 2-year). There are 40 LDs, each with 1 senator and 2 assemblymen. All positions are up for election this year.

LD-21 For Senate (1)
Tom Kean, Jr. (R)(I) - Winner
Gina Genovese (D)
LD-21 For Assembly (2)
Eric Munoz (R)(I) - Winner
Jon Bramnick (R)(I) - Winner
Norman Albert (D)
Bruce Bergen (D)
Ryan Reyes (G)
George DeCarlo (G)
LD-22 For Senate (1)
Rose McConnell (R)
Nicholas Scutari (D)(I) - Winner
LD-22 For Assembly (2)
Bryan DesRochers (R)
Robert Gatto (R)
Jerry Green (D)(I) - Winner
Linda Stender (D)(I) - Winner

Garwood Council (2, 4-year term)
Charles Lombardo (D)(I)
Stephen Napolitano (D) - Winner
Dennis Clark (R)
Anthony Sytko (R) - Winner 		LD-20 For Senate (1)
Ray Lesniak (D)(I) - Winner
Linda Gagliano (R)
LD-20 For Assembly (2)
Neil Cohen (D)(I) - Winner
Joseph Cryan (D)(I)  - Winner
(unopposed)

Fanwood Mayor (1, 4-year term)
Colleen Mahr (D)(I) - Winner
(unopposed)
Fanwood Council (2, 3-year term)
Katherine Mitchell (D)(I) - Winner
William Populus (D)(I)
Anthony Parenti (R) - Winner
Joel Stroz (R)

Mountainside Mayor (4-year term)
Robert Viglianti (R)(I) - Winner
(unopposed)
Mountainside Council (2, 4-year term)
Glenn Mortimer (R)(I) - Winner
Jeffrey Wass (R) - Winner
(both unopposed)

State Ballot Questions:
#1 Amend Constitution, Sales Tax
(Defeated - 
Yes - 562,712   No - 635,202)
#2 Borrowing, Stem Cell Research
(Defeated -
Yes - 575,539   No - 647,165)
#3 Borrowing, Green Acres
(Approved -
Yes - 650,074   No - 554,912)
#4 Amend Constitution, Voting
(Approved - 
Yes - 707,987   No - 476,595) 		Westfield Council (4-year terms)
Ward 1 (1)
Frank Arena (R) - Winner
Ross Katz (D)
Ward 2 (1)
JoAnn Neylan (R)(I) - Winner
Bruce Regenstreich (D)
Ward 3 (1)
Mark Ciarrocca (R)(I) - Winner
Matt Sontz (D)
Ward 4 (1)
James Foerst (R)(I) - Winner
Lenore Scurry (D)

Union County Freeholders (3, 3-year)
Daniel Sullivan (D)(I) - Winner
Bette Jane Kowalski (D)(I) - Winner
Adrian Mapp (I)(I)
Rayland Van Blake (D) - Winner
 Patricia Quattrocchi (R)
John Russitano (R)
Robert Reilly (R)
Becky McHugh (I)
George O'Grady (I)

Union County Sheriff (1, 5-year term)
Ralph Froehlich (D)(I) - Winner
Peter Lijoii (R)
Charles Mitchell Sr. (I)

(I) Incumbent * Projected

  
Read More on the Candidates
District 20 : District 21 : District 22 : Union County Freeholders : Union County Sheriff
Westfield Council : Fanwood Mayor : Fanwood Council : Garwood Council : Mountainside Mayor : Mountainside Council
 

District 21 State Senate (1 seat, 4 year term)

Incumbent Tom Kean, Jr. Gina Genovese Challenger
28,007 votes 18,759 votes
198 out of 207 districts reporting

District 21 General Assembly (2 seats, 2 year terms)

Incumbents Jon Bramnick Eric Munoz Norman Albert Bruce Bergen Challengers
25,714 votes 25,831 votes 16,491 votes 16,751 votes
Ryan Reyes George DeCarlo
1,126 votes 1,172 votes
198 out of 207 districts reporting

District 22 State Senate (1 seat, 4 year term)

Challenger Rose McConnell Nicholas Scutari Incumbent
10,866 votes 14,269 votes
176 of 176 districts reporting

District 22 General Assembly (2 seats, 2 year terms)

Challengers Bryan DesRochers Robert Gatto Jerry Green Linda Stender Incumbents
10,124 votes 10,311 votes 13,399 votes 13,638 votes
176 of 176 districts reporting
  District 20 State Senate (1 seat, 4 year term)

Challenger Linda Gagliano Ray Lesniak Incumbent
4,278 votes 9,321 votes
145 of 145 districts reporting

District 20 General Assembly  (2 seats, 2 year terms)
* Democrats run unopposed *

Neil Cohen Joseph Cryan Incumbents
9,534 votes 9,152 votes
145 of 145 districts reporting

Union County Freeholders (3 seats, 3 year terms)

Patricia Quattrocchi John Russitano Jr. Robert Reilly Daniel Sullivan (I) Bette Jane Kowalski (I) Rayland Van Blake
26,857 votes 26,183 votes 26,560 votes 32,121 votes 32,502 votes 30,604 votes
Adrian Mapp (I) Becky McHugh George O'Grady
6,734 votes 5,879 votes 5,841 votes
437 out of 438 districts reporting

Union County Sheriff (1 seat, 5 year term)

Peter Lijoii Charles Mitchell Sr. Ralph Froehlich
23,384 votes 6,401 votes 36,278 votes
437 out of 438 districts reporting

 
Westfield Town Council
Town Council: First Ward

Frank Arena Ross Katz
1043 votes 791 votes

Town Council: Second Ward

Incumbent Jo Ann Neylan Bruce Regenstreich Challenger
1026 votes 727 votes

Town Council: Third Ward

Incumbent Mark Ciarrocca Matt Sontz Challenger
1148 votes 657 votes

Town Council: Fourth Ward

Incumbent James Foerst Lenore Scurry Challenger
1131 votes 741 votes
 

 
Fanwood
Mayor, Unopposed

Borough Council

Challengers Anthony Parenti Joel Stroz Katherine Mitchell William Populus Incumbents
1026 votes 956 votes 978 votes 943 votes
7 of 7 districts reporting
 

Garwood
Borough Council

Anthony Sytko Dennis Clark Charles Lombardo Stephen Napolitano
544 votes 467 votes 421 votes 475 votes
4 out of 4 districts reporting, absentee ballots reporting
 

Mountainside
Mayor, Unopposed

Borough Council
* Republicans run unopposed *

 

vote in public poll : view current poll results : view polling places 
Public Question 1
Dedicates Annual Revenue of An Amount Equal To A Tax Rate of 1 Percent Under The State Sales Tax For Property Tax Reform (Editor's Note, This is $.01 of the sales tax of $.07, or 17% of total sales tax)

Do you approve the amendment of Article VII, Section I of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, to provide for the annual dedication and annual appropriation of an amount equal to the annual revenue derived from a tax rate of 1 percent imposed under the New Jersey Sales and Use Tax, exclusively for the purpose of property tax reform through a special Property Tax Reform account established in the constitutionally dedicated Property Tax Relief Fund?
Citizens vote “yes” or “no” on public questions on the ballot
Background:
The sales tax increased from 6 to 7 cents in July of 2006. This question does not change that increase. In November of 2006 the electorate approved the dedication of one-half of that penny increase to property tax reform. That dedication provided about $650 million of sales tax income placed in a special account in the Property Tax Relief Fund. New Jersey’s (the state’s) major revenue source, the personal income tax, is dedicated for the purpose of reducing property taxes and is placed in this same fund.
The 2007 question asks voters to dedicate the remaining one-half cent increase of the state sales tax for property tax reform with this money being placed in the same Property Tax Reform Account. If approved the total dedication of sales tax income for FY 2008 is estimated at $1.3 billion, if defeated the dedication of sales tax income remains at the one half cent level, estimated for FY 2008 at $650 million dollars.
Reasons to vote “yes”:
Property taxes are very high relative to other taxes in New Jersey. This dedication is a step toward providing relief to property tax payers.
Dedication of tax revenue prevents it from being used for general spending and insures its availability for the intended purpose. A constitutional dedication can only be changed by the voters.
Reasons to vote “no”:
Constitutionally dedicating taxes reduces the flexibility of the state to direct revenues to changing priorities.
The one penny increase in the sales tax passed in 2006 was to provide additional money to help balance the budget. Dedicating this increase leaves the state budget under funded which will force budget cuts or borrowing to fund programs not defined for use by the property tax relief fund. This also tends to makes the tax increase permanent.
Public Question 2
Stem Cell Research Bond Issue
Shall the “New Jersey Stem Cell Research Bond Act” which authorizes the State to issue bonds in the amount of $450 million for grants to fund “stem cell research projects,” as defined in the act, at institutions of higher education and other entities in the State conducting scientific and medical research, and providing the ways and means to pay the interest on the debt and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof, provided that recurring revenues of the State are certified by the State Treasurer to be available in an amount equal to the sum necessary to satisfy the annual debt service obligations related to such bonds, be approved?
Citizens vote “yes” or “no” on public questions on the ballot.
Background:
If approved this question allows the state of New Jersey to borrow $450 million in general obligation bonds if sufficient recurring revenues are identified to pay the debt. General obligation bonds are backed by full faith and credit of the state. These bonds may have a 35 year maturity date and may be subject to redemption prior to maturity.
No more than $45 million a year may be awarded as research grants to higher education or other state entities conducting research on stem cells. Any unused grant capacity in a given year will carry over to subsequent years. Any for-profit company must be collaborating with a NJ based nonprofit institution to be eligible for a grant. Grants will be awarded by the NJ Commission on Science and Technology with input from an independent research review panel and independent ethics panel. If a research institute realizes a financial gain associated with a grant funded project, payment to the Stem Cell Research Fund, representing a reasonable return on the grant, is required.
Reasons to vote “yes”:
Stem cell research may provide the answers to many medically devastating diseases and injuries.
Investment in research will help New Jersey maintain a competitive position in this field provide economic opportunity in the state and spur new business ventures.
The funding will be distributed based on scientific merit of projects as judged by two independent review panels.
A requirement that the Treasurer certify annually that sufficient recurring revenues are available to meet the costs provides fiscal responsibility.
Reasons to vote “no”:
With $33.7 billion in state debt, which costs $3 billion in interest and principal payments each year, this is not the time to add more debt. $45 million a year in grants is 0.15 percent of the budget. Finding a way to budget this expenditure, without the accompanying interest payments on debt, would be more fiscally responsible.
Public policy in New Jersey allows for embryonic stem cell research, which is opposed on moral grounds by some citizens. Such research should be conducted and funded by private firms, not with taxpayer dollars.
Public Question 3
Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, And Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007
Shall the “Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007,” which authorizes the State to issue bonds in the amount of $200 million to provide moneys for (1) the acquisition and development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, (2) the preservation of farmland for agricultural or horticultural use and production, (3) the acquisition for recreation and conservation purposes properties in the floodways of the Delaware River, Passaic River, and Raritan River and their tributaries, that are prone to or have incurred flood or storm damage, and (4) funding historic preservation projects; and providing the ways and means to pay the interest on the debt and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof, be approved?
Citizens vote “yes” or “no” on public questions on the ballot.
Background:
If approved this question allows the state of New Jersey to borrow $200 million in general obligation bonds. These bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the state with principal and interest paid from the state budget.
If approved the bond act allocates $109 million to the Green Acres program for open space and park development, $73 million for farmland preservation, $12 million for the Blue Acres program and $6 million for historic preservation. The Green Acres $109 million for land acquisition and park development provides $45 million for use by the state, $55 million for grants and loans to local governments and $9 million for matching grants to nonprofit organizations. The Blue Acres land acquistions in floodways will be recommended by an advisory committee composed of experts in flood management. Any land acquired must be from willing sellers. The bonds issued for historic preservation are for the purpose of providing matching grants to qualifying entities.
Only $1.7 million remains for land acquisition from the bonds authorized in 1998. The remainder must be used to pay down the debt.
Reasons to vote “yes”:
Purchasing land or rights to land for open space preservation is critical to our state’s environment and quality of life. Open space and historic sites also support the tourism industry and the economy of the state.
The state is projected to reach full development within 30 years; we need to continue to preserve open space now.
Reasons to vote “no”:
With $33.7 billion in state debt, which costs $3 billion in interest and principal payments each year, this is not the time to add more debt.
Preserving more land will inflate housing costs, disproportionately burdening middle and modest income families.
Public Question 4
Constitutional Amendment Concerning The Right To Vote For Certain Persons
Shall the amendment of Article II, Section I, paragraph 6 of the Constitution, agreed to by the Legislature, revising the current constitutional language concerning denial of the right to vote by deleting the phrase “idiot or insane person” and providing instead that a “person who has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting” shall not enjoy the right of suffrage, be adopted?
Citizens vote “yes” or “no” on public questions on the ballot.
Background:
Paragraph 6 of Article II, Section I of the New Jersey Constitution currently reads “No idiot or insane person shall enjoy the right of suffrage.” This paragraph operates as an exception to paragraph 3 which states that every citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 years, who shall have been a resident of 30 days of the State and of the county in which he claims his vote is entitled to vote. Paragraph 6 retains language from the 1844 constitution which denied the right to vote to an idiot or insane person. In 1976 the Appellate Division of the Superior court of New Jersey declared that the words “idiot” and “insane” do not have a legal meaning. Current case law denies the right to vote only to those individuals with cognitive disabilities who have been determined by a court to not understand the act of voting. This amendment places that language in the constitution, deleting the archaic language of “idiot or insane person.”
Reasons to vote “yes”:
Language is powerful. Needless and stigmatizing language should be eliminated from our constitution and laws.
This amendment acknowledges that individuals with cognitive or emotional disabilities are capable of making decisions in the voting booth. If challenged, any decision to deny suffrage would be made by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Reasons to vote “no”:
Replacing the words “idiot” and “insane person” from the New Jersey Constitution with “a person who lacks the capacity to understanding the act of voting” is subjective. Different judges could apply different factors in making their determination. There should be specific criteria for demonstrating “capacity to understand the act of voting.”
Westfield Polling Places
First Ward:
Districts 1 and 2: Roosevelt Intermediate School Gym, 302 Clark Street.
Districts 3, 5 and 7: Franklin Elementary School Auditorium, 700 Prospect Street.
Districts 4 and 6: Westfield Memorial Library, Program Room, 550 East Broad Street.
Second Ward:
District 1: Union County Annex, 300 North Avenue.
Districts 2, 3 and 6: Washington Elementary School Auditorium, 900 St. Marks Avenue.
Districts 4 and 5: Wilson Elementary School Auditorium, 301 Linden Avenue.
Third Ward:
District 1: Westfield Rescue Squad, 335 Watterson Street.
Districts 2, 3 and 4: Edison Intermediate School Gym, 800 Rahway Avenue.
Districts 5, 6 and 7: Jefferson Elementary School Auditorium, 1200 Boulevard.
Fourth Ward:
Districts 1 and 2: McKinley Elementary School Auditorium, 500 First Avenue.
Districts 3 and 4: Westfield High School Lobby, 550 Dorian Road.
District 5: Jefferson Elementary School Auditorium, 1200 Boulevard.
Fanwood Polling Places - See Map
District 1 Borough Hall, 75 N. Martine Avenue
District 2 Borough Hall, 75 N. Martine Avenue
District 3 Children's Specialized Hospital, South Ave.
District 4 Terrill Road Bible Chapel
District 5 Terrill Road Bible Chapel
District 6 Library
District 7 Library

Garwood Polling Places
District One - Firehouse Building, 415 South Avenue
District Two - Borough Hall, 403 South Avenue
District Three - Garwood Public Library, 411 Second Avenue
District Four - Garwood Public Library, 411 Second Avenue

Scotch Plains Polling Places
Districts - 1, 2 and 3: Park Middle School, New Gym, 580 Park Avenue.
Districts - 4 and 5: Scotch Plains Library, Adult Lib. Room, 1927 Bartle Ave.
Districts - 6, 7 and 8: Evergreen School, New Multipurpose Room, 2280 Evergreen Ave.
District - 9: Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, Main Entrance, Westfield Rd.
District - 10: Brunner School, Front Lobby, Westfield Road.
District - 11: St. John’s Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 2387 Morse Ave.
Districts - 12 and 13: McGinn Elementary School, Center Lobby of Gym Wing, Roosevelt Avenue.
Districts - 14, 15, and 21: Union Catholic High School, Lobby, Martine Ave.
District - 16: Union County High Vo-Tech School, Baxel Hall, 1776 Raritan Rd.
Districts - 17 and 18: Terrill Middle School, Aud. Lobby, 1301 Terrill Rd.
Districts - 19 and 20: Coles Elementary School, Lobby, 16 Kevin Road.
District - 22: Southwyck Village Club House, 1 Carriage Drive.

Mountainside Polling Places
District 1 and 6: Municipal Building, Court Room, 1385 Route 22.
District 2, 7, 8 and 9: Deerfield Elementary School, 302 Central Avenue and School Drive.
District 3, 4 and 5: Presbyterian Church, Assembly Room, Deerpath and Meeting House Lane.

Last Updated: Monday, December 10, 2007

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