Spiller announces Montclair council slate
BY JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS
winters@montclairlocal.news
Councilman Sean M. Spiller, who is running for mayor in the May municipal elections, has announced his slate.
Current council member Bill Hurlock (First Ward), Councilman-at-large Bob Russo and Councilwoman Robin Schlager (Second Ward) will be on the ballot for re-election to their current positions, running with current Third Ward Councilman Spiller.
Joining the ticket will be Roger Terry running for councilman-at-large and Lori Price Abrams for the Third Ward.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Renee Baskerville will also be running for mayor, but has not announced her slate.
Candidates must submit petitions with a number of signatures on them to become certified to be on the ballot. Mayor and at-large council candidates must have 326 certified signatures, while the threshold is 81 for the First Ward, 86 for the Second Ward, 79 for the Third Ward, and 81 for the Fourth Ward. Those numbers are based on the 32,600 registered voters in Montclair.
Petitions may be picked up from the township by any resident, but must be submitted by March 9 in order to get on the ballot for the May 12 election.
Hurlock, who has been the First Ward representative since 2012, released a statement, Feb. 20, announcing his candidacy. He wants to continue on a path of fiscal responsibility, “as we pay down existing debt sustain, freeing taxpayer dollars for projects such as paving the roads, replacing the curbs, planting trees and upgrading the playgrounds."
Russo said he wants to continue the “progressive and stable government and fiscal policies started several years ago by the current mayor and council.
“I will focus on stabilizing rents, taxes and affordable housing for our growing senior population and the many working families and middle and lower income residents who want to stay in Montclair…. And to get fair state and federal funding for our schools, especially in the area of special education. Reasonable development to control taxes and preservation of what makes Montclair so special will be the goal of my next years of service,” said Russo.
Terry is a former deputy police chief and counciilman who also served as deputy mayor.
Abrams was vice president of MWW public relations firm until January. Before that she served as director of communications with The Jewish Federations of Metrowest NJ.
Mayor Robert Jackson has told media outlets that he “could not refute rumors” that he was not running for a third term. Numerous calls and emails to Jackson by Montclair Local to confirm whether he will seek another term were not answered.