Scotch Plains-Fanwood Residents Gather for DNC Watch Party

"It's a great night to be a Democrat, isn't it?" shouted Assemblywoman Linda Stender as she addressed a crowd of nearly 60 Democrats at the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad on Thursday evening.

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Democratic committee held a Democratic National Convention(DNC) watch party on the second floor of the rescue center with all Candidates in attendance.

The DNC watch party was lead by Assemblywoman Stender, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Mayoral Candidate Kevin Glover, Scotch Plains Council Candidate Colleen Gialanella and Fanwood Council Candidates Jack Molenaar and Dan Levine. Union County Freeholder, Bruce Bergen, also spoke at the event.

Councilman Glover expressed his interest in holding the watch party there since he is always proud of the volunteers and of all the employees of Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Glover said he admires those who give up time with their families and leave work to volunteer for residents in need.

Glover was accompanied by Scotch Plains Council Candidate Colleen Gialanella, who if all goes well for the Democratic party, will take Glover's spot on Council.

The Candidates each addressed the residents of Scotch Plains and Fanwood about how crucial it was to keep President Obama in office. But also how important voting in the local election would be for Scotch Plains, a town that is currently run by Republicans. 

Glover told the crowd it's time for Scotch Plains to move out of the 19th century and "embrace what is possible."

While Candidate Gialanella talked a bit about why she decided to stop wearing her wig, after once thinking it would be seen as a weakness.

Gialanella compared her treatment and recovery to the town saying, "a little bit of treatment and Scotch Plains can be what it can be." As someone in the crowd yelled, "what it used to be!"

Assemblywoman Stender got the room excited about the upcoming election and gave a little background on herself. She pointed out young Amanda Furbacher, who has followed Stender since she was four-years-old and attended Democratic events with her father.

"I think one day she's going to be running for office!" Stender said.

Candidate for Fanwood Council, Dan Levine, disclosed a fact about Stender when he told the story of how he was recruited to run for Council.

Levine is a member of Stender's 6:15 a.m. yoga class, where after knowing his work for local government, Stender recruited him to run for Fanwood Council.

Although Stender may have recruited him, Mayor Mahr really got him interested. "Colleen is a ball of fire with terrific ideas… I hope to make it(Fanwood) even better," Levine said.

Candidate Molenaar discussed his goal to have better buildings in Fanwood and how with Mayor Mahr they really got Fanwood going. Before and after Molenaar spoke the room chanted "Jack is back!"

At around 8:30 p.m. the DNC watch party received a call from Congressman Rush Holt. Holt called live from the floor of the DNC.

"Let's bring the American dream to all Americans, not just a few," Holt said over the phone.

It was difficult for Holt to hear Mayor Mahr and Assemblywoman Stender, but the 2nd floor of the Rescue Squad heard Holt crystal clear as he said he just hoped all the Independents and any open-minded Republicans are hearing the case tonight.

When things quieted down at the event, Councilman Glover said his father always taught him to leave something better than how he found it. He said, "a pothole doesn't know the difference between Republican and Democrat."