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. 

Since Montclair changed its form of government to directly elect its mayor 20 years ago, not a single incumbent has won a second term.

The job pays $7,000 and doesn’t wield much more power than a regular member of the Township Council. But with Mayor Ed Remsen’s announcement that he will not seek reelection, five people – including three current council members – have taken out petitions to run for the office in this long, narrow New York City bedroom community with a dense and diverse population of about 40,000.

The non-partisan election in May promises to be an impassioned free-for-all. Council members Joyce Michaelson, Ted Mattox and Gerald Tobin have all decided to seek the mayor’s seat. Also interested in running are local antique dealer Noel Brogan and former Councilman Donald Zief. And since the council members’ terms are not staggered, all six seats are up for grabs – with 23 people currently interested in seeking one of those positions either at-large or in one of the four wards, many of whom will run on slates with the mayoral candidates (some of the mayoral candidates have also picked up council petitions).