Jerry Fried

Several new mayors will take office today after winning the May 13 non-partisan municipal elections, including Wilda Diaz in Perth Amboy, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. in Orange, Jerry Fried in Montclair, Robert Romano in Vineland, and Edward Mahaney in Cape May City.

MONTCLAIR -- As teams of candidates canvassed the Township’s neighborhoods  today, outgoing Mayor Ed Remsen went to work at his day job.

There’s a small chance that the Montclair government could turn over completely today, with 22 candidates competing for the mayor’s office and six council seats.  And after eight years in local government – four as mayor – Remsen has a chance to sit back and watch members of the slate he formed four years ago fight it out today. 

Remsen listed some of his accomplishments during his four years on the council and his four years leading the body as mayor – a position that essentially amounts to a slightly more powerful councilman.  From the moment he was elected, Remsen said, he only intended to serve four years.  And he’s accomplished 75-80% of what he set out to do. 

The Montclair municipal races have gotten especially heated over the last few weeks.

Mayoral candidate Joyce Michaelson, who's currently the town's deputy mayor, has two of the area's prominent Democrats behind her for this non-partisan election. Last week, Senate President Dick Codey, who doesn't represent Montclair in the legislature but lives in neighboring West Orange, came out in support of Michaelson. She also has the backing of Assemblyman Thomas Giblin and current Montclair Mayor Ed Remsen, who's stepping down after four years on the job.

"I think it does demonstrate the fact that I am known, that I know people and that I can represent Montclair well, and I think that's important," said Michaelson, who added that she hasn't put much stock in those endorsements. "The endorsement I'll seek is from each voter in Montclair."

Nine New Jersey municipalities will elect mayors in next Tuesday’s non-partisan election: Bradley Beach, Cape May City, Delran, Mahwah, Montclair, Orange, Perth Amboy, Spotswood, and Vineland.

Orange Mayor Mims Hackett, who was indicted last October on charges that he accepted a bribe, is not a candidate for re-election. Six candidates are running to replace him: Councilwoman Tency Eason, Councilman Donald Page; Planning Board Chairman Dwight Holmes; attorney Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., the son of a former Assemblyman;

Vineland Mayor Perry Barse faces a strong challenge in his bid for a third term from Robert Romano, a police lieutenant and the son of Barse’s predecessor. Also running for mayor is Nicholas Girone, a former school administrator.

In Montclair, incumbent Edward Remsen is not seeking re-election – the latest in a long string of one-term mayors. Councilwoman Joyce Michaelson, Councilman Ted Maddox and BikeMontclair founder Jerry Fried are the mayoral candidates.