May 13

Challenger Robert Romano 

VINELAND - At their debate in the Ramada Inn here today, Mayor Perry Barse defended his administration’s master plan process in the face of an attack by opponent Robert Romano, who cited a judge’s ruling that the process was not transparent.

"The planning board had 16 open public meetings, held in Vineland City Council meetings, with opportunities for emails and phone-ins," said Barse. "We started the process a year ahead of time. The Vineland City Council chambers were full of residents, and many more watching at home. That’s my opinion."

Vineland Mayor Perry Barse 

VINELAND - The only debate in the mayor’s contest is underway in this south Jersey city of 58,000, which pits Mayor Perry Barse against police lieutenant Robert Romano and former school board president Nick Girone.

Two-term incumbent Barse just finished his opening statement in an event sponsored by the Greater Vineland Area Chamber of Commerce at the local Ramada.

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex)ORANGE - Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) today endorsed Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., for mayor in this city in search of a leader in the aftermath of Mims Hackett’s fall.

"Eldridge Hawkins has the right combination of talent and experience to lead Orange in a new direction," said Codey, who served with the candidate’s father, Eldridge Hawkins, in the General Assembly in the early 1970s.

"Eldridge will bring new ideas, extraordinary competence, and leadership in law enforcement, business management and education to the government of Orange," Codey said. "Eldridge Hawkins is a law enforcement expert who has a sensible plan to make Orange safer. Eldridge is a businessman who understands how to create tight budgets, staff City Hall with seasoned professional managers, attract new tax-paying businesses and hold the line on rising property taxes."

Council President John SowellIRVINGTON - A political pragmatist who insists his insider knowledge of how government works does not diminish his closeness to the community, Council President John Sowell says an aggressive opponent in the West Ward doesn’t know enough about the process to serve.

An executive with the sheet metal workers union, Sowell originally thought he was only going to be running against 21-year old Keith White, political acolyte of North Ward Councilman David Lyons.

Now he’s also trying to stare down an old contemporary.

It’s a three-way race in Irvington’s West Ward with Sowell intending to fend off not just National Guardsman White but one-time ally turned vocal detractor, security guard Cedric Hunter.

Challenger Cedric HunterHunter and Sowell fell out after Hunter, a leader of the Irvington Alliance, failed to spirit the council president away from Team Irvington, a group founded and run by At-Large Councilman (and Freeholder) Bilal Beasley, who was wounded in an unsuccessful challenge last year of Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex).

"Bilal Beasley’s run of victories at the county level are over and soon the people who so openly supported him will besiege him to rid themselves of his disgrace," Hunter wrote to Sowell soon after Beasley’s loss. "As one of his most obedient cohorts, your name is closely aligned with his. Hopefully, you will see that the handwriting is on the wall and Bilal Beasley’s career in politics will (not) last for too much longer."

IRVINGTON - West Ward challenger Cedric Hunter discusses his vision for Irvington.

VINELAND - Fighting in the Republican mayoral primary, RobertVineland mayoral candidate Robert Romano Romano today rolled out the endorsement of the Vineland Superior Officers Association, which lauded the police lieutenant as an "experienced and natural leader."

"Bob Romano has always been a man of integrity," said association president Sgt. Lenny Wolf. "He is called upon every day to make tough decisions... We are proud to support him for our next mayor."

In accepting the support of an organization that represents 30 current Vineland police lieutenants and sergeants, Romano said, "This endorsement is a huge honor for me. The Superior Officers Association represents some of the best leaders in law enforcement, and I am pleased to have their backing as I work to restore honesty and integrity in City Hall."

The candidates running for mayor in Orange are schedule toOrange Councilman Donald Page participate in a forum Thursday sponsored by the Rev. Reginald Jackson at St. Matthew’s AME Church.

Local clergy members will pose questions to the six invited candidates at the event, which begins at 7 p.m.

At-Large Councilman Donald Page plans to attend the forum.

"It’s a legitimate debate," said Page spokesman Michael Vieira.

Andre Sayegh, left, receives the endorsement of retiring Councilman Thomas C. Rooney, for Rooney's 6th Ward seat.

PATERSON - Andre Sayegh, candidate for the Paterson City Council in the 6th Ward, today officially accepted the endorsement of retiring Councilman Thomas C. Rooney, a former Paterson mayor.

IRVINGTON - Fighting for re-election against Newark Police Detective Gene Etchison, North Ward Councilman David Lyons says he will stop companing when Irvington improves.

Councilman David LyonsIRVINGTON - North Ward Councilman David Lyons and Gene Etchison started out as friends and political allies, with Etchison drawn to the older man’s fireball activism.

As president of the local tenants association, Lyons didn’t care who he offended in his drive for better housing, and he took that attitude into a run for City Council in 1996.

"We used to go door to door together," recalled Etchison of Lyons’ first campaign. "I was like his little brother."

That didn’t last.

Lyons won. But though he successfully backed Etchison for district leader, Etchison then ran against Lyons with the muscle of South Ward boss D. Bilal Beasley and Team Irvington behind him.Challenger Gene Etchison

The councilman took the challenge as a betrayal.

"When I see him around, we don’t talk, said Lyons. "I lost respect for him after that."

A police officer and Marine Corps veteran who is the godson of Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, Etchison said it was only political inevitability that propelled him into the arena against a man he once admired, but whom he came to see as a chronic naysayer.