The battle of the Chiefs of Staff: Dacey ousted in Metuchen, but Cammarano wins easily
By Wally EdgeTimothy Dacey, who served as Chief of Staff to James E. McGreevey when the future Governor was the Mayor of Woodbridge, lost his bid for re-election to the Metuchen Borough Council on Tuesday. Republican Justin Manley defeated him by 25 votes, 3,642 to 3,617, to become the first successful GOP candidate in Metuchen in many years. Dacey's running mate, Peter Cammarano, who served as Chief of Staff to Gov. Richard Codey, won his race for Metuchen Councilman. He was the top vote-getter with 4,161 votes. Cammarano was appointed to fill an unexpired term last January.
A former Bergen County Administrator and Deputy Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Dacey is now the the Vice President of Administrative Services at Bergen Community College.
Metuchen was one of several Middlesex County towns where voters split their tickets at the local level. In Dunellen, voters re-elected Councilman Frank Bieniek to a fourth term, but Republican Ken Bayer beat Democratic Municipal Chairman and progressive activist Bertin Lefkovic by 123 votes for the second seat. Helmetta voters went for three Independent candidates for Borough Council, including incumbent Sewell Peckham. Milltown and Sayreville also elected a Democrat and a Republican to local office.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Chris Christie’s refusal to have his picture taken with Rick Merkt at a Republican event in Summit was probably just the former federal ... >
Bob Torricelli
It's hard to not be concerned these days. We've all witnessed frustration with our institutions before but I never remember anything of this ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Instead of borrowing trillions to waste on make-work governmental projects, stimulate the economy with tax cuts. >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
With the entrance of Chris Christie into the Republican gubernatorial primary, the GOP has greatly enhanced its chances of capturing the ... >
Rob Tornoe
Joey Novick
Hard to believe we have arrived at the last year of the first decade of the 21st century. Boy, seems like it was just yesterday that Bush was handed ... >
Juan Melli
It's actually come to this: A panel convened by the legislature of the State of New Jersey has concluded that discrimination is not good. Maybe ... >
Carla Katz
As it tends to, history seems to be repeating itself as 240 laid-off workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago revive a decades old tactic -- ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Many columnists write a "year in review" or a "predictions" piece for the New Year, however I decided to refrain from going down ... >
Murray Sabrin
Yesterday President-elect Barack Obama outlined his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan in a speech at George Mason University. Obama said we ... >
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Healy and Stack and the late Glenn Cunningham
- Kyrillos: 'We need a leader like Chris Christie'
- Lonegan camp says they qualify for matching funds
- Reilly joins Codey staff
- Christie will run for Governor
- Merkt fights perceived Christie canonization in Passaic County
- Holt decides to run for assembly instead of state senate
- U.S. Rep. Adler assumes seat on financial services committee
- Corzine allies respond to Christie news
- Rule him out of District 36 Assembly run, says Scarpelli
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- Obama bundler says he lost $25 billion of N.J. pension funds
- Weinberg loses life savings in Madoff Ponzi scheme
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
"I’m here to talk to people not pose for pictures with you." -- Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie to Assemblyman Rick Merkt, his former running mate and now his rival in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor, according to Merkt.
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Yudin may be waffling on word to GOP boss ― CHARLES STILE
The City Boss Becomes the Country Boss ― DICK BENFIELD...MUST READ
Ferriero's support a curse for Kasparian? ― CHARLES STILE...MUST READ
Trenton must stop thinking outside box― DOUG FORRESTER
Three's a crowd, but one man isn't a party― ALFRED DOBLIN
Newspaper Shuns Web, and Thrives― DAN JACOBSON
Murder charge for Prisco― ANGELO PRISCO
Healy: Have yourself a merry little Christmas with my CD― JERSEY JOURNAL
Time for BCDO to clean up its act ― CHARLES STILE
Syndicate
I thought Cammarano lived in Hoboken?
clarification?
2petes
There are two New Jersey politicians named Peter Cammarano: one is a Hoboken Councilman, the other, Dick Codey's ex-COS, is a Metuchen Councilman.
Addendum, Wally
Two Republicans were elected in Metuchen last year. One was Will Waldron. With the third elected this year, it may have even switched control, although I don't know how many council seats there are in Metuchen. Do check again, though -- I know Will and his runningmate were elected last year, and this GOP councilman makes three.
Couple of points
Thanks for the article Wally but we're not quite done counting yet. Your totals accurately reflect the polls and absentees but we still have 47 provisionals to review. I feel good with a 25 vote margin and only 47 to count but the corks are all still in the bottles at this point. Also Micah is correct. We ran and elected Will Waldron and Christopher Morrison last year in Metuchen. Before that, you have to go back to 1999 to find a Republican elected in any year. In a Presidential year you may have to go back to the 60s or 70s to find one. If after the provisionals I am in fact elected, our Borough Council of 6 would be split evenly with 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans. Democratic Mayor Tom Vahalla would break any ties. I'll be back to let you know the outcome after Friday.