Westfield, New Jersey

Westfield is a town located in Union County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 29,644. Settled in the late 17th century as part of Elizabethtown and incorporated in 1903. The tv show Ed was partially filmed in Westfield's downtown, which served as the basis for Stuckeyville's downtown.

Government

National and State

As of 2005, Westfield is represented by New Jersey Democratic senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg. Westfield is in New Jersey's 7th conressional district and is represented by Republican Mike Ferguson in the House of Representatives. Westfield is in the 21st NJ Legislative District and is represented in the NJ Senate by Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. and in the State assembly by Republicans Jon Bramnick and Eric Munoz.

Related Topics:
New Jersey - Senators - Jon Corzine - Frank Lautenberg - Mike Ferguson - House of Representatives - Thomas Kean, Jr. - Jon Bramnick - Eric Munoz

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Town Hall

Westfield is divided into four electoral districs called wards. Each ward elects two councilmen who sit on the Town Council and vote on measures to be passed into law. The entire municipality elects a mayor who serves as president of the Town Council. All elected officials on the Town Council serve four year terms. The Town Council holds weekly meetings open to the public where it discusses legislation under consideration. Like most of the United States, Westfield politics are dominated by a two-party system in which the Republican Party and the Democratic Party compete for elected offices. Like the federal government, Westfield politics are dominated by the GOP and in 2003 Republicans took complete control of the Town Council and the current officeholders are listed below.

Related Topics:
Two-party system - Republican Party - Democratic Party

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Mayor

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• Andrew Skibitsky (R)

1st Ward

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• Peter Echausse (R)
• Sal Caruana (R)

2nd Ward

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• Jo Ann Neylan (R)
• Rafael Betancourt (R)

3rd Ward

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• Mark Ciarrocca (R)

4th Ward

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• Lawrence A. Goldman (R)
• James Foerst (R)

School system

Westfield boasts an exceptional school system. It is divided by a "North Side/South Side" boundary. The schools on the north side consist of Franklin Elementary School, Wilson Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, and Theodore Roosevelt Intermediate School; and on the south side are Jefferson Elementary School, Tamaques Elementary School, McKinley Elementary School, and Thomas Alva Edison Intermediate School. Students on each side of town are divided amongst the three elementary schools on their side, go to a common intermediate school, and then join the other side of town in Westfield High School.

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Parking Deck

Downtown Westfield is a vital economic center for the surrounding towns but the parking question is a perennial issue in Westfield Politics. In 2004, after intense debate, a town-wide referendum on a parking deck proposal was defeated by 10594 to 3091 votes. The issue remains without a solution, satisfactory to all.

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