Herald News Election Blog

More tension in Prospect Park

Tensions increased in Prospect Park as the day wore on. Campaigners began insulting and criticizing each other.

Both sides accused the other of paying or bribing campaigners to be there.

Volunteers yelled back and forth across the street — becoming louder with every shout.

“Let those people do the screaming,” Andre Greer warned his niece. “We keep it professional. That’s what keeps people coming to our side.”

People commented on everything from the other campaigners’ appearances to the weakness of the other candidates’ campaigns. At the same time, borough officials jokingly said they hoped there wouldn’t be a fist fight.

—Heather Kays

Complaints in Prospect Park

It didn’t take long for the excitement of the Prospect Park Democratic primary to turn ugly Tuesday.

At least two complaints were made to the municipal clerk claiming that campaigners had either threatened or insulted workers for their opponents.

One complaint was made by Andre Greer’s niece, Vinisha Mack. While it was made in the name of Amer Haobsh, according to the body of the complaint filed with the borough clerk, the incident actually involved Hugo Montoya. Montoya is Haobsh’s running mate and the former recreation director.

Mack, who was very vocal while campaigning on her uncle’s behalf, said that at around 7:30 a.m., Montoya started cursing and yelling at her.

“He said you people don’t need to be here. I took offense. I took it as a racial slur,” the 23-year-old said, adding that Montoya yelled at her again about two hours later.

But according to Haobsh — who said other campaigners had complained to police in his defense — Mack and Councilman Richard Eschique’s sister were the cause of the altercation.

He said that the pair started yelling at him and calling him every name in the book and even called him a “whack job” and claimed he abused women.

“This all started because of nothing. Nothing but lies and slander,” he said, adding that Mack was warned by police after the dispute early Tuesday morning.

Borough Clerk Yancy Wazirmas said this was the first time she ever received a complaint during a primary.

—Heather Kays

Speziale, Currie ready to back Obama

Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale and Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie were among the first to endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton for president last year. 

But after Sen. Barack Obama clinched the delegates he needed for the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday, both Speziale and Currie said they were ready to support the Illinois senator.

"We'll be together in November," Speziale said.

"We believed in Senator Clinton," Currie said. "Most of us believe that both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are outstanding candidates. But we will be with Senator Obama 100 percent and the Passaic County Democratic Party is going to be working as hard for him as we would have been for Senator Clinton."

Bill Maer, spokesman for the Bergen County Democratic Party, said the same sentiments applied to Bergen officials who backed Clinton.

-Paul Brubaker

Duffy: No regrets with a twist

Freeholder Terry Duffy made political waves and headlines last month when he endorsed Rep. Rob Andrews' over incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate.

But after Lautenberg clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, Duffy said he had absolutely no regrets for backing the former Camden County freeholder.

"I stood up for what I truly believe in," Duffy said, speaking from his home on Tuesday night.

Duffy, who owns a popular Paterson tavern, bucked the Passaic County Democrats' endorsement of Lautenberg because of the senator's stances on issues that impact bar owners.

But with the primary over, Duffy said he is ready to support Lautenberg.

"The voters made their decision and I am fully, 110 percent behind Senator Lautenberg," Duffy said.

-Paul Brubaker

 

Results are in

The Passaic County Clerk's Office has posted unofficial results of today's primary elections on the office's  web site.

-Paul Brubaker

Never seen turnout this low...

Republican West Paterson residents voting at the Charles Olbon School polling station said that they support Richard A. Zimmer in his bid for U.S. Senate.

“He has been around a little bit longer,” said Phyllis Morello, 44, of West Paterson.

Zimmer, of Hunterdon County, served three terms in the House of Representatives. He is chasing the Republican nomination for Sen. Frank Lautenberg's seat,  going up against Murray Sabrin, a Ramapo professor, and Joe Pennacchio, a dentist and a Morris County state senator.

Meanwhile, voting clerks said they have noticed a decrease turnout at this year’s primary.

“I’ve been doing this twelve years, and I have never seen turnout this low,” said a clerk at the West Paterson Municipal Building.

- Virgil Dickson

Republicans for freeholder fighting down to the wire

Luciano "Lou" Signorino, GOP candidate for freeholder, said he spent the day pressing the flesh in the county's Republican enclaves of Wayne, West Milford, and Hawthorne in his grassroots effort to win a nomination.

Signorino, a Wayne contractor, and his running mate, William Connolly of Paterson, shocked the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization when they became candidates in April. By that time, the organization had already endorsed Michael Marotta of Wayne and former Ringwood Mayor Jerry Holt. Holt ran unsuccessfully for freeholder in 2007.

Republicans have been the county's minority party for the past decade. Funds and other resources have been meager for endorsed candidates, which could mean victory is in reach of Signorino and Connolly's  shoe-leather driven campaigns.

But if they are not successful, Signorino said he could "see himself endorsing the other candidates."

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done in the county," he said. 

-Paul Brubaker

The word isn't "old," it's "experienced."

PATERSON - Much has been said about Sen. Frank Lautenberg's age in the weeks leading up to today's primary, but it doesn't appear to be a factor for Paterson Democrats.

Most voters who were interviewed by The Herald News today said when they cast their ballot, they were not considering the age of the  incumbent senator - who will turn 90 during the next six-year term.

"As long as a person can do the job, it doesn't matter how old he is," said Linda Lane of North 5th St. Lane did not want to say which candidate got her vote.

Abdul Aziz, who voted at John F. Kennedy High School, said he supports Rep. Rob Andrews, but not because he is younger than the incumbent.

Meanwhile, Irene Lopez said she voted for Lautenberg, but was still concerned about his age.

"You don't know how long he's going to last," she said. "He could have a heart attack today."

  - Paul Brubaker

A taste of the South

One Clifton ex-pat was happy to chat politics outside of Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

As she waited for her mother to vote, Murem Sharpe explained how doing politics in her new home of Savannah, Ga., was different than in the City that Cares. Congressional districts are bigger, land is more rural, and the population is much more conservative.

"People ask me, 'How can you live in a red state?' I tell them, I live in a blue city in a red state," Sharpe said.

A self-described political junkie, Sharpe was appalled at the low turnout at Woodrow.

"Maybe people were confused?" suggested Sharpe, who now resides in Savannah, Ga. "People just don't care."

When she  casts her ballot in the deep South, Sharpe votes for Congressman John Barrow.

"He's a socially conservative Democrat," she said. "Given the choice, I'd rather vote for a socially conservative Democrat than a socially conservative Republican."

-- Sarah Schillaci

Silk City's Sleepy Polling Centers

PATERSON - At the YWCA on Carroll Street, five poll workers sat idle and napped on Tuesday afternoon waiting for the next voter. Election officials at Public School No. 17 on North 5^th St. could step into the warm sunshine outside with no risk of interfering with someone getting to the polls. At John F. Kennedy High School, 25 Democrats had cast ballots as of 5 p.m.

Despite the contest between Paterson native and incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg and U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews of Haddon Heights, Silk City Democrats are apparently sitting out today’s primary.

Jeanette Ervin, 52, of Totowa Boulevard wasn’t surprise that today’s turn out wasn’t shaping up to match the Presidential primary’s numbers in February, when voters chose between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

“The election for president is bigger,” Ervin said. “That has everything to do with the future of the entire country.” 

-Paul Brubaker