Julio Tavarez

Councilman Julio Tavarez

Paterson - New Jersey's third largest city and now on the brink of a mayoral election next year - delivered the same voter turnout for Gov. Jon Corzine that he received four years ago in his first bid for governor.

These results are unofficial and don't include provisionals: Corzine received 16,038 votes in the Silk City, to Republican candidate (now Gov.-elect) Chris Christie's 2,040.

Those numbers almost mirror Corzine's 2005 performance against Mercer buisnessman Doug Forrester: 17,000 to 1,600 votes.

Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh, left, with Council President Jeffrey Jones.

PATERSON - Barack Obama first sprang the "cousin Pookie" line in New Jersey back in 2006, when he was campaigning for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Hoboken) in Paterson.

"He said to me, 'Vera, we know about cousin Pookie, don't we?' and I told him, 'We sure do," recalled the 4th Ward councilwoman, who's served on the governing body for 24 years in this Passaic County anchor city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, 25,882 to 2802. 

Now incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine is hoping the campaign efforts of President Barack Obama will amp up his numbers in urban areas like Paterson.

"In a strictly Democratic community like this, many folks will be voting the Democratic line, and they know they have to get out and vote," said Ames. "There is a connection between Corzine and (Mayor Jose "Joey") Torres with the $30 million we get every year from this administration to keep the taxes down. There's a lot of work going on for Corzine. There's very good coordination between the Corzine people and local elected officials. We've been working with them for months. I can't speak for the rest of New Jersey, but I know he's going to take Paterson."

Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh, right, with supporter (Deputy Mayor) Elsa Mantilla during his successful 2008 council race.

Most observers figure the 2010 Paterson mayor's race will feature at least a two-man showdown between incumbent Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres and Council President Jeffrey Jones.

If he decides to run, Torres would be aiming for his third term as mayor. 

An ex-Marine and college professor, Jones has served on the city council since 1996 and announced his 2010 citywide candidacy as early as last year.

Assuming Torres runs, the intriguing question is who will be the third person to step forward to try to mount a credible campaign.

Sixth Ward Councilman Andre Sayegh today told PolitickerNJ.com that he may be the man to find an opening between Torres's Puerto Rican base and Jones's African American base for a play at the affections of the whole city as a new generation unity candidate.

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Contact: Julio Tavarez
862-262-8621
ESPAÑOL

Paterson, NJ - Councilman at Large Rigo Rodriguez and 5th Ward Councilman Julio Tavarez were delighted, as well as other council members, by the project presented by the Plaza Juan Pablo Duarte Committee at the Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 City Council Workshop Meeting.  The committee, lead by Deputy Mayor Elsa Mantilla, is proposing to adopt and rename the pocket park located on the corner of Straight Street and Market Street Juan Pablo Duarte Plaza (see map below).

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Paterson, NJ - Councilman-at-Large Rigo Rodriguez is sponsoring an ordinance allowing a section of Park Avenue to be known as Juan Pablo Duarte Drive.  The ordinance is being co-sponsored by 5th Ward Councilman Julio Tavarez and serves to highlight the many contributions and positive impact the Dominican-American Community have had on the City of Paterson.

The municipal Council of the City of Paterson unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by Councilman Julio Tavarez calling for all new vehicles purchased by the City of Paterson to be environmentally friendly.

Passaic County Clerk Karen Brown could face West Paterson Councilman Keith Kazmark in a contest for the Democratic nomination.

Passaic County Democrats will have a lot on their plate over the next few months as they decide who to run for two Freeholder seats and if they'll back embattled County Clerk Karen Brown for re-election.  Democrats expect two Freeholders, Sonia Rosado and James Gallagher, not to run again - at least in the case of Gallagher, not as a Democrat. 

Brown won the post five years ago when she ousted two-term incumbent Ronni Nochimson by a 54%-46% margin.  Nochimson, who was the last Republican to hold countywide office in Passaic County, switched parties in 2006 and has said he wants to run for her old job as a Democrat.  Brown has a strong ally in U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, but will have a tough time convincing Democratic County Chairman John Currie and some of the Democratic Freeholders to support her.

Woodland Park Councilman Keith Kazmark, who is the Elmwood Park Municipal Clerk, is also reportedly interested in running for County Clerk.  Kazmark is a former Democratic political operative with strong ties to party leaders across the county.

Dominicans and allies celebrated Dr. Alex Blanco’s victory in the Passaic mayoral race last week as a first in the annals of American politics. As far as they know, he’s the first Dominican elected mayor in the United States.

“There’s an assemblyman in New York, but concerning mayors, none,” said Blanco, a product of the Passaic public school system who earned college and medical degrees locally and works in the city as a podiatrist.

“I was shocked when I found out I was the first,” added the mayor-elect, who figures to be sworn into office before the end of November.

PASSAIC – Among Dr. Alex Blanco’s street presence in the city on Election Day walks Paterson City At Large Councilman Rigo Rodriguez, who’s excited about his fellow Dominican American and his chances here today in the special mayoral contest.

“He’s a good candidate, and I believe he would be the right person to fight corruption in City Hall, which has been very bad here in Passaic,” said Rodriguez.

The councilman had success in his hometown in the last municipal election, as he sent an ally head-to-head with Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres’s candidate, Councilman Juan Torres.

PATERSON - In arguably the most bitterly contested Paterson wardJulio Tavarez fight of the season, the campaigns of Ward 5 Councilman Juan Torres and challenger Julio Tavarez savored a brief afternoon lull before the 4-8 p.m. press.

"My people are eating now," said Tavarez. "I think overall we are getting a good response out there. We're gearing up. The real fight begins at 4 when all the people start coming home from work."

The challanger last night held a packed pre-Election Day rally at the Masonic Temple, complete with speeches and Latin dance music.

In what many Paterson political insiders believe is Torres's hardest re-election fight over the course of his two terms in office, the councilman today said he is upbeat.