Montclair

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."

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).