IRVINGTON, NJ — The annual three-day New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference kicked off at the Convention Center in Atlantic City and Mayor Tony Vauss was planning to use it as a statewide platform to launch his local 2018 re-election campaign.
“I’m doing my announcement tomorrow in Atlantic City and anyone that wants to come down, they’re welcome,” said Vauss on Monday, Nov. 13. “I have a bus leaving from Town Hall tomorrow at 3 p.m. The party starts at 8 p.m. I have a bus leaving from Town Hall, so you don’t have to drive if you don’t want to, and it’s coming back around 11 p.m.”
According to the official conference website at www.njslom.org, the NJSLM is a voluntary association created to help communities do a better job of self-government through pooling information resources and brainpower. It is authorized by state statute and, since 1915, has been serving local officials throughout the Garden State.
All 565 municipalities are members of the NJSLM. More than 560 mayors and 13,000 elected and appointed officials of member municipalities are entitled to all of the services and privileges of the league, which is why Vauss said it was the perfect venue for him to announce his 2018 re-election campaign.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for Democrats, not only in New Jersey but across the country,” said Vauss on Tuesday, Nov. 14. “I wanted to show Democrats united throughout the state of New Jersey and felt that it was a perfect opportunity to announce my re-election bid, with the at-large council members in front of all the elected officials in the state of New Jersey. We are excited about all of the progress made in Irvington and look forward to continuing to make it the best it can be. We will also unveil major endorsements from elected officials from around the state and the county.”
“The League of Municipalities Conference is one of the biggest events in the state, even if you’re not into or involved with politics,” said Orange at-large Councilwoman Donna K. Williams on Sunday, Nov. 12, following her city’s annual Veterans Day Parade. “Everybody’s going to be down there and it’s a great place to go and learn about government and share ideas with people from across the state. A lot of cities and towns are dealing with the same challenges and issues, so when everybody comes together at the League Conference, we can find out what other people are doing to solve their challenges and other information that we can bring back home to our constituents and communities.”
Williams also said she was excited to attend some of the many trademark parties that have become a staple of the annual conference, including Vauss and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who were both expected to make the re-election announcements on different nights at the three-day event that began on Tuesday, Nov. 14, and was scheduled to run through Thursday, Nov. 16.
“There are always lots of parties, but it’s hard to keep up with most of them or even compete with them,” said Williams. “Ras parties are like hip-hop music stars throwing a party. You can’t compete with that and it’s would be a waste of time even bothering to try to keep up. Everybody has their own speed. I’m looking forward to Tony’s party.”
According to the NJLM website, the annual conference is “the highlight of the year’s activities.” It’s described as “an invaluable learning experience which yields benefits throughout the year.”
Delegates, including Vauss and the Irvington contingent and Williams and others, “have the opportunity to learn and ask questions at more than 100 panels, clinics, workshops and other sessions conducted by the league and the 21 associations of technical and professional employees allied with it. Commercial, government and association exhibits display the latest products and services for municipal government.
According to the website, the 2016 NJLM conference had “more than 16,000 delegates, participants and guests attended, representing the largest municipal gathering in the country.”
About the Author
