LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM: KEVIN GLOVER, MAYOR-ELECT, SCOTCH PLAINS TOWNSHIP   I first want to express my heartfelt thanks to our Township employees for their dedicated work during Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath, with a special thanks to our Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department and Rescue Squad for their dedication in keeping our township and all our residents safe.   Clearly, in the aftermath of the storm, we need to focus on improving communications within the Township so our citizens can be kept better informed on what is going on around them.  I heard often as…

To the Editor:As the Scotch Plains Democratic Chairman, I want to wish Mayor DePaola and her running mate Mr. Saridaki  well. I know how difficult it is to campaign, work and continue normal family life at the same time. It is a major commitment and I know that you both did it for your concern for the Town of Scotch Plains. This was a landslide victory for the people of Scotch Plains. This is the first time in the history of the town that the Democrats carried 20 of the 23 districts electing Councilman Kevin Glover as Mayor and Colleen Gialanella as Councilwoman. The voters clearly sent a …

The following information was provided by the Scotch Plains DemocratsMAYOR-ELECT GLOVER SAYS THANK YOU, PROMISES TO WORK FOR FULL RESTORATION OF POWER IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE SANDY(Scotch Plains, NJ)-- Scotch Plains Councilman Kevin Glover, who was elected Mayor on November 6th, 2012, today thanked the many Scotch Plains voters who supported him and his running mate, Councilwoman-elect Colleen Gialanella."Right now, nothing's more important than getting the power back on for our many residents who have suffered in darkness with no heat for more than ten days," said Glover. The Mayor-elect …

There were few surprises as the results were tallied in the race for three seats on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in which the Democratic party once again swept the GOP. Six candidates were competing for three openings on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders including: Democrats Alexander Mirabella of Fanwood, who  currently serves as chairman of the Freeholder Board; Mohamed S. Jalloh, of Roselle who is finishing up his first term and Bruce H. Bergen of Springfield, who joined the Democratic ticket this year. Republicans challengers included Diane Barabas of Westfield…

Republican Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) will be heading back to Washington to begin his third term after defeating Democratic challenger Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula. Lance won 58 percent of the vote, with Chivukula capturing just 39 percent. Many believed the race was Lance's to lose, as the 7th Congressional district spans a largely Republican territory that includes Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties as well as parts of Morris.  Throughout his campaign, Lance stressed the need for reform to President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He has …

Six candidates are competing for three openings on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Board is comprised of nine members who are elected to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of the County, while day-to-day operations is supervised by an appointed County Manager. Three Republicans, none of whom have previously held an elected office, are hoping to shake up a Board that has been made up of Democrats for decades. Up for election today: Alexander Mirabella, of …

  For ongoing election updates, follow us on twitter @spfpatch and like us on Facebook, Scotch Plains Patch.Updated at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8, to include Mayor DePaola's comments.Updated 10p.m. to include the latest results. Democrats, Kevin Glover and Colleen Gialanella celebrated their win at a private residence on Tuesday evening.Glover and Gialanella each received over 1,000 more votes than current mayor, Mary DePaola and current Councilman, Edward Saridaki (see charts below for exact numbers).The two democrats noted the results indicated a defining moment for the Township of Scotch Plains.…