Time for Change in West Caldwell

Alex Trento says it's time for a change in West Caldwell.

Trento, the Democatic candidate for mayor in the township, said after 12 years of the administration of Republican Joseph Tempesta, Jr., it is time for someone new to take over.

"I will provide new leadership to the community," Trento said. "West Caldwell is changing from a very red (Republican) town to a purple town."

Trento, 68, has been involved in Democratic politics in West Caldwell since he moved to the township in 1978, and also ran for the state assembly in 1979. Prior to moving to West Caldwell, he lived in Irvington, where he served 12 years on the town council, including two years as council president.

Trento said, if he were elected, he would propose the following changes to West Caldwell voters. Trento said he wants to cut wasteful spending to hold the line on local taxes, eliminating part-time borough attorneys, merging the township court with neighboring towns, initiating a business advisory council, establishing a traffic safety commission, adopting ethics reform and creating a recreation advisory board.

Trento, a retired educator, said the formation of a business advisory council is, perhaps, one of the biggest issues facing the township.

"We have abandoned buildings along Bloomfield Avenue that are eyesores," he said. "Something needs to be done."

Trento proposes a committee made up of businessmen, residents and public officials to form a strategic plan to best develop vacant and abandoned lots in West Caldwell's business zone, mainly along Bloomfield and Passaic avenues.

"We need to have attractive businesses here that will attract shoppers to West Caldwell," he said.

Trento noted that the new Stop 'N' Shop supermarket in the Essex Mall on Bloomfield Avenue has given the area a commercial boost. He also suggested another vacant property along Bloomfield Avenue could be developed as a catering hall.

A traffic advisory committee, Trento said, would be made up of nine representatives, one from each of the township's voting districts, "who would be the eyes and ears for that area." The committee would report monthly to the council about traffic problems in their area. 

As for the township attorneys, Trento said that in these tough economic times, it would be more cost-effective to eliminate having a part-time attorney for each township board.

"West Caldwell needs to hire one full-time attorney who would handle all of the town's matters," he said. "A full-time attorney will incorporate all (township) tasks."

A recreation commission would oversee all recreation programs in West Caldwell, Trento said. "We have a good recreation program, but no commission to oversee it," he said. "A commission will get the people involved and build a stronger community.

"There are a number of clubs in this town that have not received the recognition they deserve from the [township]."

An ethics reform bill, Trento said, would eliminate nepotism in municipal departments and expand the "Pay to Play" law to limit local contributions from anyone doing municipal business to no more than $300.

Merging the municipal court with those in neighboring towns such as North Caldwell and Fairfield would save residents tax dollars, Trento said.

Trento said he is a qualified candidate for mayor.

"With over 40 years of experience in politics, I am uniquely qualified to serve as mayor," he said. "I believe local politics should be non-partisan. As mayor, I will reach out to all residents, Democrat and Republican, to have an integral role in the continuing development of our town."

Trento, and his wife Marie, have long been active in West Caldwell Democratic politics. And although the Democrats have had an uphill battle in gaining footing in township politics, former Caldwell Councilman Jeff Curley, said party affiliation shouldn't matter so much at the local level.

"The West Essex area in general leans Republican ... but you can make an argument for non-partisanship. There is no national issue we're dealing with on the local level. We all want the same things on the local level, we want low property taxes. The label really does not matter at all."

Voters will decide the West Caldwell Township race on Tuesday, Nov.  2.