Garwood Election Guide: Democratic Incumbents Face Republican Challengers in Council Race

Garwood will decide two borough council seats, each a three-year term, in tomorrow's election. Democratic incumbents Sara Todisco and Louis Petruzzelli will defend their seats against Republic challengers Carol Ann Kearney and Steven Blaufeder.

Here, a primer on the candidates.

THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS
Sara Todisco and Louis Petruzzelli

Councilman Petruzzelli has resided in Garwood for the past 18 years with his wife Jacqueline and three children. Seeking his second term on council, Petruzzelli has served as Fire Commissioner, Athletic Field Complex Project Representative, and Library Board Representative during his first term. President and owner of Accent Electric Corporation for the last 21 years, Petruzzelli says he understands the role of a hard-working and fiscally responsible leader as well as team player. Petruzzelli has also been involved in community organizations including the PTA, Garwood Baseball League and Clark Pop Warner Football.

Councilwoman Todisco, a lifelong, fourth-generation Garwood resident, Todisco says she hopes to remain on council to continue moving Garwood forward. Todisco, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a history degree and minors in education and business, is currently employed as a social studies teacher in the Guttenberg Public School system. She says she is a quick study and is looking forward to continue providing fresh perspectives on community affairs. Todisco's current council committee assignments include Finance, Recreation, Celebrations, Board of Health and Union County Air Traffic Noise Advisory Board. Todisco has been involved in the community as a softball coach, member of the Garwood Lions Club, and member of the Education Foundation of Garwood.

"As incumbent Council members, Lou and I want to continue working on Council to serve the residents of Garwood and help move current projects to completion, such as the Athletic Field Complex," Todisco wrote in an email to Patch. "We also want to bring new ideas to Council to keep moving Garwood forward, such as plans for further redevelopment along North Avenue. We both enjoy living in Garwood and want to continue working to move the borough further by maintaining services while making fiscally responsible decisions to serve the best interest of the residents."

THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS
Carol Ann Kearney and Steven Blaufeder

Kearney and Blaufeder both own small businesses in Union County. Kearney is the owner of Unique Cruise and Travel in Garwood and Blaufeder owns and manages TT Cycles, a custom motorcycle import/export business in Berkeley Heights.

As they announced their campaign this summer, Kearney and Blaufeder expressed that they hope to use their small business expertise to help advance the borough. Kearney stated she feels that small businesses are a proven, necessary part of the local landscape.

"Not only do they provide jobs for local residents but they attract clients from nearby communities who then frequent other local businesses creating a connection that brings customers back repeatedly," she said.

In their campaign announcement, Kearney and Blaufeder stated they want to share their knowledge of what works for success and rebuild the relationships between Garwood's business owners/operators and the municipality that they feel has somehow gotten lost.

"There is a definite void in communication between borough hall and the local business owners that should be rekindled if we are to keep from having for rent signs popping up," said Blaufeder. Both candidates believe that any plans for successful redevelopment on the North and South Avenue corridors will be dependent on how the borough responds to the needs of the entrepreneurs seeking to settle in the borough and those already here.

The Republican candidates agree that there is still a lot of work to do at borough hall. They believe that the current Republican led administration is just getting started and needs help going forward to meet their goals. They also believe that more like-minded thinkers on the council can only help to more rapidly bring about the changes that will ultimately benefit the residents.