According to Frank Monaco on the website myoaklandnj.com, Henry Lesher will be running as an Independent Candidate for Council in the upcoming November Election. He said they have a campaign manager and treasurer, but are looking for a recording secretary and other volunteers. You can meet them at Burger King most mornings at 9am and invite you to come and talk and have a cup of coffee. The petition and signatures need to be to the Bergen County Board of Elections by June 3rd to be on the ballot. Henry Lesher last ran for office as running mate to Linda Schwager and Sandra Coira three years ago. (The Oakland Journal has not confirmed this information.)
Click here to read Henry Lesher Announcement of intent to run for town council in November Election.
Sandra Coira (D) has thrown her hat into the ring once again. As of now she and Oakland Board of Education President, Russell Talamini (R) are the only 2 running. Talamini BOE term ends in 2015. Elizabeth (Betsy) Stagg has chosen not to run again. She will have served 4 consecutive 3 year terms. The deadline to file with a party declaration was yesterday, March 28th, 2013. The deadline to file a petition as an Independent or Unaffiliated is on June 3rd, 2014. Could be a very tame election season for Oakland.
With just the two running presents the perfect opportunity for someone unaffiliated to toss their hat into the ring and give the voters a real choice….provided, of course, they offer a sound platform. If not, I think I’ll stay home next November and not waste my gas and time.
Apathy and Indifference. Those two words best describe our current Borough Council and it includes both parties. To leave a seat go uncontested because “we like it the way it is” wreaks of deals. Is it because we really have a republican dressed in democratic clothes?
What’s the point of voting? I’ll be staying home.