Paterson

Paterson - The following are the results from contested ward races in Paterson.

In the  2nd Ward: Councilman Aslon Goow, Sr., won with 1,161 votes, compared to Elizabeth Rosado, who earned 474 votes, and John Larko, who earned 147 votes.

In the 3rd Ward, Councilman Bill McKoy won with 977 votes, compared to Miguel Diaz with 705 votes.
   
In the 4th Ward, Councilwoman Vera Ames-Garnes won re-election with 641. Her challengers, Wilkin Santana and Kisha Manning, received 244 and 182 votes respectively.

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.

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.

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.

PATERSON - Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale jumped into theCouncilman Aslon Goow Paterson Council race 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.   

Ward 5 Councilman Juan TorresPATERSON - In a bruising re-election battle, two-term Ward 5 Councilman Juan Torres personally went to the campaign headquarters of challenger Julio Tavarez over the weekend warning his rivals to stay away from his street signs.

"They must be scared," Torres said of the Tavarez campaign.

An ally of Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres, the councilman said that Tavarez partisans removed 14 of his signs in the competitive ward.

Tavarez today was gearing up for his campaign’s "victory rally," where the council candidate intends to prepare his troops to take to the streets tomorrow on Election Day.

ORANGE Candidates for mayor: At-Large Councilman Donald Page, North Ward Councilwoman Tency Eason, West Orange Patrolman Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., Zoning Board Chair Janice Morrell, activist Betty Brown, Planning Board Chair Dwight Holmes.ORANGE - Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) has invested his time, name and $2,600 in Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., the 28-tear old son of his former seat mate in the Assembly, who voted in his first Orange election just last year.

Codey’s political enemies will crow if his candidate fails to secure anything short of a first place finish, but the former governor’s pick of a 28-year old with "it factor" potential could pay political dividends in the future.

PATERSON - As recently as last month, Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres wasMayor Jose "Joey" Torres coy about whether he would publicly get into the Elizabeth Rosadorace against his adversary, Ward Two Councilman Aslon Goow.

"I don't know if a mayor should endorse," the mayor mused, later threatening to get into the contest  if Goow continued his public assault against his record as mayor. 

Today, Torres officially got in the game, lending his voice in a robocall to the cause of Goow challenger Elizabeth Rosado, wife of longtime Torres ally, former Councilman Jerry Luis Rosado. 

Goow, a two-term incumbent, is trying to fend off challenges from both Rosado and mason contractor John Larko. 

 Ward 4 challenger Kisha Manning. 

PATERSON - Shrugged off by the incumbent as too aloof to feel the pain of the 4th Ward, Kisha Manning smiles and shakes her head.

She was born here and grew up here.

"I even get my hair done and my nails done here," she says with a laugh.

Her school record at William Paterson University and subsequent success as a revenue officer with the Internal Revenue Service don’t diminish the roots, or the lifelong street cred Councilwoman Vera Ames-Garnes claims Manning lacks to maneuver in a city that has been under state-control for 18 years.

PATERSON - Supporters of Councilwoman Vera Ames-Garnes give their reasons for helping to elect the 23-year veteran of the PAterson City Council.