IRVINGTON, NJ — On Jan. 1, East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor remarked at his city’s annual City Council reorganization meeting that, based on the attendance of so many high-powered New Jersey Democratic Party elected officials at the meeting, his city must rate high on the list of important places to be in 2016.
If so, then Irvington is high on the list of places for Democrats to be in 2016, too, according to Mayor Tony Vauss.
“On Wednesday, Jan. 13, the Irvington Democratic Committee will be having a meeting discussing the upcoming school board and municipal elections,” Vauss said Monday, Jan. 11.
“Our guest speaker will be Phil Murphy, a candidate for New Jersey governor. Two weeks later, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, we’re having another district leader meeting and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop will be there. Both meetings are at 660 Stuyvesant Ave. They both start at 6 p.m.”
Vauss said this was just the start of what promises to be a very active election season at all levels of government in New Jersey and across the country. He said the Irvington Democratic Committee’s 2016 calendar is proof that with great organizations, such events become second nature.
“On Thursday, Feb. 11, New Jersey state Senate President Stephen Sweeney is scheduled to attend our district leader meeting as well,” Vauss said.
“It just goes to show that East Orange, Orange, Newark and Irvington as well are very important and we need to let these prospective candidates for governor know who we are; what our communities want and need; and to ask them what they plan to do for us, if they are elected. We want to hear their platforms and what they are going to do for Irvington and communities like Irvington.”
Vauss said former Municipal Council President and Essex County Freeholder D. Bilal Beasley, who also served as his mentor, always told him “politics is about relationships.” The mayor added that his friend Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin always says the same, whenever anyone asks him about politics.
“We know about relationships,” Vauss said. “I have a great relationship with all three candidates for governor. They’re all great guys. It’s all about seeing what they have in mind for my constituents here in Irvington. That’s the reason for these meetings.”
Vauss said the one drawback to the appearance of so many Democratic Party bigwigs in a town such as Irvington is the limited space and seating available. He said upcoming meetings are scheduled to take place at 660 Stuyvesant Ave., so there may not be enough space to accommodate everyone in town who would like to attend.
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