Second Ward Councilwoman Shelley Bates

HILLSIDE – Against the backdrop of a local fight over raises for public employees in a dry season for state extraordinary aid, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Shelley Bates launched her grassroots campaign for mayor today in an email blast to supporters.

“A new day is coming and… I am making it official: I will be a candidate for Mayor of the Township of Hillside,” wrote Bates, a public information officer for the State of New Jersey and ardent 2008 Barack Obama supporter who is serving her first term on the council. 

“Over the course of the next few days I look forward to introducing you to my slate of candidates for the three at-large council seats and discussing how we plan to make Hillside a better place to live and work,” said the candidate. “If the last year has proven anything, it's proven that change is within reach. It will be hard work and I will need as many of you as possible standing by my side starting today. I ask for your support and I promise to not let you down.”

Bates, who two weeks ago voted against approving public employee contract raises in a tough fiscal climate, is the third candidate to formally declare for mayor, behind real estate developer Joe Menza and School Board member Andre Daniels. 

Sources anticipate a fourth candidate, At-Large Councilman Jerome Jewell, who voted for the raises, will soon enter the race with the support of the local Democratic Party machine.

Having warred with the party for four years after receiving the organization’s backing in 2005, incumbent Mayor Karen McCoy-Oliver is unlikely to pursue a third term, according to Hillside sources.

Grassroots Democrat Bates ran for council in 2007 in an effort to try to get more sleep. 

Upset by the lack of enforcement of state laws governing drinking establishments in Hillside, she rode similar neighborhood dissatisfaction into office and helped close down the bar in question.

Bates subsequently built a reputation as an activist councilwoman in the minority.

“In 2008, I went door to door with petitions seeking to get our council meetings broadcast on cable television, to update the township website and to improve openness and transparency in our municipal government,” she reminded her supporters. “In addition, I circulated another petition to strengthen our pay-to-play ordinance in order to decrease the influence vendors have on our township government.  My neighbors thought our petitioning days were behind us once I got on the council.  We thought new ideas and fresh thinking would be discussed and debated openly.  Instead, we had to petition more Hillside citizens when we realized that such ideas were not welcomed by the Council Majority. Business as usual seems to rule the day here in Hillside.”