Dems take control with defeat of Reids

Voters approve questions on LOSAP, holding
constitutional convention

By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

Voters approve questions on LOSAP, holding
constitutional convention
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

HELMETTA — After a hard-fought campaign season in which each party attacked the other, the Democrats have emerged victorious in their quest for two Borough Council seats and the control of the governing body.

Incumbent Councilman Andrew Tancredi won his second term on Tuesday, along with newcomer Nicole Perdoni-Byrne.

Perdoni-Byrne, an attorney, received the most votes, with 340, while Tancredi, the owner of a power-washing business in the borough, finished with 334 votes.

On the Republican side, outspoken Councilman Thomas Reid, a borough business owner, lost his bid for a third term on the council after garnering 300 votes. His sister-in-law, lifelong borough resident Christine Reid, received 303 votes.

The general election drew 58 percent of the borough’s registered voters.

The Democrats will now have a 4-2 majority on the council, in addition to the mayor’s seat, which is held by Frank Hague.

Councilman Edward Romano and Lou Adornati will be the council’s only two Republicans, while council members Cay Dufau, Charlie Molino, Tancredi and Perdoni-Byrne will make up the Democratic majority.

Previously, the council was evenly split along party lines, with Hague voting in the event of a tie.

"Watch people’s taxes go up now," Thomas Reid said of the soon-to-be Democrat-controlled council.

"Watch and see what they are going to do."

However, Perdoni-Byrne and Tancredi said they only plan to make positive strides in Helmetta.

"We will continue to do the right thing in Helmetta," Tancredi said.

"It was a good race," Perdoni-Byrne said.

"I am proud to be representing the town."

Although all four candidates supported the redevelopment of the snuff mill area, the Democrats did not offer specific ideas for the redevelopment site, as they said they want to await the completion of a redevelopment study.

The Republicans said they would not support Matrix Development Corp.’s proposal to build 294 luxury apartment units and specialty shops on the property, insisting that the site must remained zoned for light industrial and senior housing only.

Thomas Reid attributed his loss to the political mudslinging against him.

"They were willing to do anything," said Reid, who accused the opposing party of defaming him by distributing negative fliers around the borough and destroying his campaign signs.

Reid said his loss would allow him to devote more time to his family.

"I only lost by 30 votes. I’m proud," he said.

Also in the election, voters approved a ballot question supporting a Length Of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) for the borough’s volunteer fire department.

The vote was 315 to 190 in favor of the pension program that would cost homeowners $9.60 per year for a home assessed at the borough average of $68,000.

The idea of organizing a limited constitutional convention on property tax reform received overwhelming support from residents.

The vote was 420 to 79 in favor of the convention.