Five (5) candidates, all men, are running for three (3) positions on the governing body. Half of the original candidates dropped out during the year, leaving one unopposed race for 2nd ward council and two (2) replacement candidates running for 1st ward council.
John F. Kennedy was originally named as the Democratic candidate for the 2nd ward but dropped out and no one was presented to run against Marc Caswell, leaving the current incumbent unopposed.
Richard Huxford, the municipal prosecutor and original Republican candidate for the first ward dropped out and was replaced by Andrew Casais. He was slated to challenge incumbent Larry Dinardo until the 1st ward councilman resigned from the governing body, allowing Eugene Meola to run as the 1st ward Democratic candidate.
The only seat race that has held the same candidates since the Primary in June is the Council-At-Large with Councilman-At-Large Carl Hokanson vying for a second term against Republican Glen Costello.
Even though there was no candidates’ debate being held this year in Roselle Park, an invitation to all final candidates was extended so they could sit down and discuss their candidacy, ideas, platform, and views. Below are the interviews with three (3) of the candidates: Andrew Casais, Eugene Meola, and Carl Hokanson.
Marc Caswell was in contact with Roselle Park News and tried to coordinate dates but due to a legitimate conflict of schedules has proposed to have his interview later in the year.
Several attempts to contact Glen Costello via mail, phone, and even at his residence were made but Mr. Costello did not reply to any of those communications.
The delay in releasing the interviews was due to the lateness of one of the candidates’ interviews but now that all have been conducted, below are the answers to 10 or so topics.
Andrew Casais
| TOPIC | AUDIO |
|---|---|
| Personal Background | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-01.mp3[/podcast] |
| Experience | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-02.mp3[/podcast] |
| Businesses In the 1st Ward | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-03.mp3[/podcast] |
| Crime | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-04.mp3[/podcast] |
| Social Contract (Appropriate Work Orders) | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-05.mp3[/podcast] |
| Special Improvement District | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-06.mp3[/podcast] |
| Business In Town | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-07.mp3[/podcast] |
| 1st Ward Concerns | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-08.mp3[/podcast] |
| Post Office | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-09.mp3[/podcast] |
| Townwide Re-Evaluation | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-10.mp3[/podcast] |
| Meeting Residents | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/andrew-casais-11.mp3[/podcast] |
Eugene Meola
| TOPIC | AUDIO |
|---|---|
| Personal Background | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-01.mp3[/podcast] |
| Experience | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-02.mp3[/podcast] |
| Views On Being On A Resident & Councilman | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-03.mp3[/podcast] |
| Businesses In the 1st Ward | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-04.mp3[/podcast] |
| Crime | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-05.mp3[/podcast] |
| Special Improvement District | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-06.mp3[/podcast] |
| Business In Town | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-07.mp3[/podcast] |
| 1st Ward Concerns | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-08.mp3[/podcast] |
| Post Office | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-09.mp3[/podcast] |
| Townwide Re-Evaluation | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-10.mp3[/podcast] |
| Meeting Residents | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/eugene-meola-11.mp3[/podcast] |
Carl Hokanson
| TOPIC | AUDIO |
|---|---|
| Changes In Roselle Park Since 2008 | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-01.mp3[/podcast] |
| 2008 Campaign Issue: Contract Negotiations | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-02.mp3[/podcast] |
| Special Improvement District | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-03.mp3[/podcast] |
| Post Office | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-04.mp3[/podcast] |
| Home Rule | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-05.mp3[/podcast] |
| 2008 Campaign Issue: Aid, Grants, Recycling | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-06.mp3[/podcast] |
| 2008 Campaign Issue: Transparency | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-07.mp3[/podcast] |
| 2008 Campaign Issue: Tax Increases | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-08.mp3[/podcast] |
| Townwide Re-Evaluation | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-09.mp3[/podcast] |
| Review Of First Term | [podcast]https://www.roselleparknews.org/audio/carl-hokanson-10.mp3[/podcast] |
[Editorial Note: Sincerest apologies to Council-At-Large Carl Hokanson for the inclusion of the editor’s 65-pound pit bull making noise during the interview. The council-at-large stuck it out and conducted the interview with decorum, patience, and professionalism. This type of unprofessional conduct on the newspaper’s part will not occur again.]