May 13

PATERSON - The campaign of Councilman Aslon Goow reported goodWard Two Councilman Aslon Goow and ally Millie Mulero GOTV efforts as around 500 voters across the 2nd Ward turned out to vote as of this afternoon.

"We're strong in our areas, including the Hillcrest neighborhood and the senior buildings," said Goow campaign spokesman Ryan Yacco.

Goow is trying to fend off Elizabeth Rosado, wife of former Councilman Jerry Luis Rosado and an ally of Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres.

Mason contractor John Larko is also challenging.

JACKSON - Team Ingram braced for a last weekend hit from the Council candidate Todd PorterKafton campaign, which came in the form of a mailer depicting Councilwoman Emily Ingram and her running mates as the puppets of Mayor Mark Seda.

Seda's unpopular in town at the moment owing to property taxe hikes.

Former Mayor Michael Kafton and his running mates, Bobbie Rivere and Mike Reina, see an opportunity to bump the mayor's ally, Ingram, off the town council, while also denying her running mates, Charles Garafano and Todd Porter.

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.

Morrell campaign manager Peter Learmont, left, and Morrell supporter Royland Cain 

ORANGE - In front of the Love of Jesus Church, Peter Learmont, campaign manager for Janice Morrell, urges a Donald Page supporter to abandon her backing of the long-serving councilman and side with the Morrell campaign.

He meets resistance.

"When they tried to raise my taxes, Donald Page voted 'no,'" Ollie Marshall-Rico says.

Eldridge Hawkins and campaign volunteers 

ORANGE - Standing in front of the Oakwood Avenue School with his orange t-shirted supporters, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., says he's taking nothing for granted.

"While the other candidates were driving their caravans around this weekend, six cars deep, I was out there knocking on doors," says Hawkins.

Last night, state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) sent out a robocall for Hawkins.

Councilman Donald Page and Orange resident Kettely Austin 

ORANGE - Running for mayor, At-Large Councilman Donald Page voted at 7 a.m. at the YMCA on Park Avenue and High Street.

Now he drives from one polling place to the next while his campaign manager Michael Vieira puts yellow-shirted Page soldiers on the streets.

The camp is confident.

"We had some problems with some of the machines - one at Love of Jesus Church and another at the Elks, but otherwise things have gone well," said Page, a 14-year veteran of the council.

In Ridgewood, former congressional candidate Paul Aronsohn is seeking a Council seat in today's municipal election
Local Elections will be held today in: Allenhurst, Bass River, Belleville, Bradley Beach, Cape May Point, Cape May City, Deal, Delran, Garfield, Gloucester Township, Irvington, Island Heights, Keansburg, Long Beach, Longport, Manchester, Mahwah, Medford Lakes, Montclair, Mount Holly, Ocean City, Newton, Nutley, Orange, Paterson, Pohatcong, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, Sparta, Spotswood, Teaneck, Ventnor, West Orange, West Wildwood, and West Windsor.

CLICK HERE TO READ POLITICKERNJ.COM'S COVERAGE OF THE 2008 NON-PARTISAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

At Large Councilman Jeffrey Jones 

PATERSON - Ward races will dominate the polling places tomorrow on Election Day, and one person who will watch the results come in but does not expect any surprises is At-Large Councilman Jeffrey Jones.

Jones already has his sights on 2010, and whatever happens Tuesday will not interfere with his plans.

"I have every intention of running for mayor," says Jones, a 50-year old native Patersonian who was first elected to the council in 1996.

North Ward Councilman David Lyons in his campaign headquarters on Monday night. 

IRVINGTON - Gene Etchison approaches a sprawling old house on the corner of Clinton Avenue and tells the resident when he steps outside, "I love your grass. It’s cut real nice. I love to lie down in the grass, that’s why I always notice it when I go by here."

The man shakes the candidate's hand. He knows it’s the day before Election Day.

He confesses he has a problem with the way Mayor Wayne Smith’s administration is running the town, and he tells Etchison he’d like to go to Town Hall and tell them they need to improve the sanitation department - and everything else for that matter, but he just doesn’t have the energy anymore.

PATERSON - Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale jumped intoCouncilman Aslon Goow Paterson municipal politics over the weekend, publicly endorsing Ward 2 Councilman Aslon Goow, chair of the council's public safety committee and a vocal critic of Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres.

Speziale's picture and declaration of confidence appeared on a Goow mail piece that hits the streets in Ward 2.

"Goow is the only (council) candidate the sheriff is endorsing," said Goow campaign spokesman Ryan Yacco. 

Yacco says the endorsement is significant, particulalry in the Hillcrest section of the ward.

A two-term concilman, Goow is running against John Larko and Elizabeth Rosado.

Rosado has  the public support of Mayor Torres.