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JACKSON - An Election Day sweep by a bipartisan ticket led by Jackson Mayor Mark SedaDemocrat Michael Kafton propelled citizens to the microphone at a Thursday night council meeting to complain about Mayor Mark Seda’s efforts to privatize the city’s building department.

At the head of the charge was the newly victorious Kafton, who called on Attorney General Anne Milgram to investigate Seda’s efforts even as the mayor’s father faces a $30,000 building department fine.

He also chastised the council for failing to join him.

"The council is either closing their eyes or not strong enough to stand up to him (Seda)," said the councilman-elect and former mayor. "I demanded the council get to the attorney general’s office."

Repblican Party operative Brian Nelson of Shrewsbury will not pursue the Monmouth County GOP chairmanship to succeed departing Chairman Adam Puharic, he told PolitickerNJ.com today.

"Some people asked me if I was interested," sad Nelson.  "But my daughter is two years old, and I have professional responsibilities. If I were at my own law firm in Monmouth County I might have the flexibility the job requires. I don't have that right now."

At this point, former Sheriff Joe Oxley looks like the favorite, according to Republican Party sources. Chariman Puharic earlier this week told the Asbury Park Press that he would not pursue another term as chair.

ORANGE - Two days after Election Day, At Large Councilman Donald Page said he has not yet conceded victory to West Orange Patrolman Eldridge Hawkins in their Orange At-Large Councilman Donald Page on Election Daymayoral contest.

Hawkins beat Page on Tuesday night by a margin of 30-27%, but Page said he’s not so sure.

"We have some questions about what happened on Election Day," said the candidate, who huddled today with lawyers to examine the results.

"I’m not at liberty to say right now exactly how we’re going to pursue this," Page added.

NEWARK - They both come from the south, but the more common U.S. Rep. Rob Andrewsand, they say, compelling trait that South Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews and South Ward Councilman Oscar James II share is desire for change.

Already counting on the long-established North Ward Democratic Organization for support in his U.S. Senate campaign here in Essex County, Andrews has banded with members of the fledgling South Ward Political Action Committee (SWPAC) and will rally with them this Saturday at an event hosted by James.

The alliance looks like a natural.

As the Newarkers take on an entrenched South Ward party machine, and Andrews statewide simultaneously goes after an 84-year old incumbent, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), they both highlight the new-versus-stale narrative in their respective June 3 battles.

Five days into his service as acting mayor of Passaic, Gary SchaerPassaic Acting Mayor Gary Schaer pledged to remove the taint of corruption from a city whose former mayor pleaded guilty to extortion last Friday and resigned hours before Schaer assumed office.

"Throughout my over 18 years of service to Passaic, I have sought to serve with distinction and honor, always taking into account what is best for all of Passaic," said Schaer, 57, an investment analyst broker who served as commissioner of the Passaic Housing Authority for five years prior to his election to the council.

As the successor of Sammy Rivera, Schaer continues in his role as council president, and as the legislature’s first Orthodox Jewish assemblyman, now serving his second term in the 36th district.

BELLEVILLE - A day after P.J. Mac Donald beat one of FreeholderAssemblyman/Freeholder Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville) Ralph Caputo’s three vanquished candidates to fill a vacated 3rd Ward seat, Mac Donald campaign signs on his Washington Avenue headquarters came down.

In their place now stand Bob Russo for Freeholder signs.

"Ralph Caputo’s school board candidates got wiped out, and now his council candidates got blown out," said Russo campaign manager Gary Iacobacci. "What happened last night means Bob can actually win Belleville. It’s a dire situation for the incumbent."

A defiant Caputo said the Russo people are mistaken if they believe Elvin Pereira’s 70-vote margin loss to Mac Donald in the 3rd Ward demonstrates Caputo’s weakness in the 5th district, which includes Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley.

Union Leader Carla Katz has filed a lawsuit against several branches of her own union today, charging top officials with waging personal attacks and investigations against her in retaliation for her opposition to some concessions they supported.

The Katz complaint was filed against Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen, District Vice President Chris Shelton, Legislative and Political Director Robert Master, as well as the leaders of five local CWA unions that supported last year’s agreement with the state.

Katz heads up CWA Local 1034, which, according to her press release, is the largest CWA local in the country.  She filed the complaint this morning at the United States District Court in Trenton. 

IRVINGTON - All of the incumbents won here, including North WardAt -Large Councilman David Lyons wins Councilman David Lyons, who eked out a victory over tough challenger Gene Etchison, a Newark police detective.

Often the lone dissenter on Irvington’s City Council, Lyons won 451 votes (51% ) to Etchison’s 427 votes (49%).

Lyons’s West Ward running mate, Keith White, lost to Council President John Sowell. In that ward, the incumbent earned 345 votes (60%) to White’s 222 (38%). A third candidate in the race, Cedric Hunter, earned just 9 votes.

A three-term incumbent, Lyons received the backing of Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) in his second close win over Etchison in four years.

Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., and his sister, Hillary, moments after they learned of victory. 

ORANGE - A few Orange city blocks separate the campaign headquarters of Donald Page and Eldridge Hawkins, but a wide gulf of emotion opened up after 9 p.m. when the results of the mayor’s race came down from City Hall and Hawkins won.

In a six-way race, Hawkins defeated Page by a margin of 30-27%, or 1,061 to 942 votes, to deal a heartbreaking loss to the forces of the long-serving councilman.

"We did it," said a jubilant Hawkins, surrounded by family and supporters, including state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) in his campaign headquarters behind Sandwiches Unlimited on Center Street.

"He was a great candidate," said Codey, an Orange native who backed the 28-year old West Orange patrolman amid controversy about the candidate’s short-time residency in Orange.

BELLEVILLE - Incumbent councilmen, running mates Steve Rovell and Councilman John Notari: victoriousJohn Notari turned back challengers Mario Drozdz and Thomas Salzano in wards 3 and 4 respectively.

In Ward 1, Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke defeated challenger Peter Zangari.

Rovell was the town's highest vote-getter tonight. He received 710 votes, or 61% against Drozdz, who got 447, or 39%.

Notari beat Salzano, 625 to 211 votes, while Strumolo-Burke defeated Zangari by a 72-28% margin, 612 to 237 votes.