Joyce Michaelson

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.

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).

Montclair Mayor Edward Remsen says he will not seek re-election to a second term next year. Montclair's non-partisan mayoral election will be held in May 2008. Possible candidates incude three members of the Town Council: Joyce Michaelson, Ted Mattox, and Gerald Tobin.