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Voters back McCain, open space
(by Margot Hojell and Joe Olivieri - November 06, 2008)
As they had done in 2004, Verona and Cedar Grove leaned Republican, and backed Arizona Sen. John McCain’s failed bid for the presidency on Election Day Tuesday.
Cedar Grove voters approved its municipal question, allowing 2 cents per $100 for home assessment in taxes to go towards an open space fund.
Sixty three percent, or 2,214 votes, were in favor, while 37 percent, or 1,323 voters were against it, according to Essex County Clerk’s Office.
Turnout was 73 percent in both towns, according to unofficial municipal results. The results are unofficial in that they do not include provisional or absentee ballots.
In Verona, 6,963 out of 9,540 eligible voters cast ballots, representing 73 percent, according to the township.
In Cedar Grove, 6,194 out of 8,502 eligible voters took part, according to local officials.
Verona
Verona voters cast 3,353 votes for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and 3,501 votes for McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, according to the township’s unofficial results.
Independent Ralph Nader received 19 votes while Libertarian candidate Bob Barr received 16.
The township approved the State Public Question No. 1 by 2,343 to 1,486, but defeated State Public Question No. 2 1,798 to 1,933.
Voters cast 3,002 ballots for Republican Dick Zimmer and 2,922 for Democrat Frank Lautenberg.
In the House of Representatives race, Democrat Bill Pascrell received 2,215 and Republican Roland Straten received 2,564.
Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove voters cast 2,400 votes for Obama/Biden and 3,719 for McCain/Palin, according to the township’s unofficial results.
Barr received 14 votes and Nader received 13.
As for the Senate race, local voters supported Zimmer over Lautenberg 3,011 to 2,212.
In the House of Representatives race, Pascrell received 2,658 votes and Straten had 2,513.
For state question No. 1, the subtotal for yes was 2,106, and the subtotal for no was 1,466.
For state question No. 2, for yes the subtotal was 1,589, and for no was 1,893.
The key players involved with the open space are the open space committee and the town government, said Deputy Mayor Joe Chiusolo.
One of the issues addressed at the Town Council meeting on Nov. 3 was open space.
Cedar Grove resident and Open Space Committee member Joe Moroney spoke of how important the trees and fresh air is, and how he is for the open space.
“…So I would recommend that as being one of the Open Space Committee (members) that everybody in Cedar Grove vote for the open space,” said Moroney. “We have done that for a couple of years now and money is being accumulated so that some of the rather valuable pieces of land in Cedar Grove, although not valuable in money, there are pieces of property there that could be valuable for our open space,” he concludes, “So I recommend very highly…that you vote for open space.”
The council members said that it was a unanimous vote by the council to put the open space question on the ballot. The open space questions voters whether or not they want to vote for open space.
On Nov. 4, 2008, after Cedar Grove residents were done voting, they shared how they felt in regards to the open space question on the ballot.
Christine Levine responded, “Well, I’m in favor of it- open space, so I voted for it.”
Anna Pancila responded in regards to the question, “I thought it was excellent.”
Bennett Renda gave a similar response, “I thought it was ok, I mean I voted yes for it.”
Lastly, Donna Thompson gave her input on how she felt about the open space question, “I voted yes, support open space.”
An open space forum will be held at the municipal building on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.
| Comments (1) |
On November 27, 2008 Barak said:
Those yahoos in Cedar Grove and Verona voted for McCain, what kind of jiveass mentality is going down there. I thought NJ was a Blue state. Don't come to DC looking for any kind of bailout now!! |
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