Stockton mayoral battle shapes up

Mayor Gregg Rackin will face off against Councilman Nicolo Messina in the June 6 primary.

By: Mae Rhine
   Not so many years ago, members of the Stockton Borough Council often forgot to file for re-election.
   They never worried, however. They won easily with write-in votes once the tight-knit community found out they still were interested in serving.
   That’s not true anymore. In fact, council elections now usually have a slate of candidates to choose from, both in the primary and general election.
   This year will be no exception. There are two people vying for the Republican nod for the four-year term of mayor. They are incumbent Mayor Gregg Rackin and Councilman Nicolo Messina, who will give up his chance for re-election to the council to battle the mayor in the June 6 primary.
   Councilman Stephen Giocondo also gave up his shot at re-election to file as the Democratic candidate for mayor. No other Democrats filed so the winner of the Rackin-Messina battle should face Mr. Giocondo in November.
   Monday was the state deadline to file nominating petitions for the primary.
   What’s sparking the interest in Stockton this year?
   "I am not so sure that Councilman Messina wants to be mayor as much as he and the people he is working with don’t want me to be mayor," Mayor Rackin said Tuesday. "I think that I make the council uncomfortable because I challenge them to do things they otherwise would not do."
   He added that as a result of his challenging them, "a lot has gotten done."
   But Mr. Messina denied he was running because he wanted Mr. Rackin out.
   "I am not running because I don’t want him to be mayor," he said Tuesday. "I am running because I think there are some important opportunities that could benefit Stockton Borough, and to gain those benefits, I think we could be better managed. That’s why I’m running for mayor. I have no personal agenda that is primarily ‘get rid of Gregg.’ My primary goal is to manage Stockton as best as possible so it can benefit as best as possible from its opportunities."
   He said he was not implying Mayor Rackin had mismanaged anything, but rather, "I just think it could be handled better."
   Mr. Messina said he was uncertain what Mayor Rackin meant when he said, "the people he’s working with."
   He said, "I’m uncomfortable with him referring to ‘the people I’m working with.’ I am certainly not trying to create any division within the borough. I’m just trying to do what I think is best."
   A phone call to Mr. Giocondo was not immediately returned.
   Now that Mr. Messina and Mr. Giocondo are eyeing the mayoral position, the two three-year council seats are up for grabs. But Brian Hurff, a Democrat, and Jeffrey Casaletto, a Republican, who were the only ones to file, should face no opposition in the primary and November election.
   Things are quieter in Lambertville. David Del Vecchio, a Democrat, faces no opposition in the primary or general election as he seeks his fourth consecutive three-year term as mayor.
   But in West Amwell, Thomas Molnar, currently mayor, will battle Toby Rich for the Republican nod for the sole three-year term on the Township Committee.
   The winner of that battle will face off against former Township Committeeman William Corboy, a Democrat, who has no opposition in the primary.