Former Summit Police Chief Announces Run For Common Council

SUMMIT, NJ — Former Summit Police Chief Robert Weck, who retired last year after 31 years on the force, has begun a write-in campaign to seek the Republican nomination for a Ward 1 Common Council seat, the local Republicans announced Friday.

Weck missed the April 5 filing deadline to appear on the primary ballot in June to try to get a party nomination to be a candidate in November.

Incumbent Democrat Andy Minegar filed by that date to run for a 1st Ward seat, and appeared at first to have no opposition either in his own party or from the Republicans.

But that could change if Weck gets onto the ballot in November by gaining write-in nominations on June 8.

A total of five candidates had filed by April 5 to run for four seats that will be in contention on the Common Council in November. READ MORE: Five Candidates File To Run For Summit Common Council

Only two candidates filed by the deadline to face off against each other in the same race: incumbent Democrat Greg Vartan will face Republican David Fosgate in November.

Weck enters

Summit Republican Chair Steve Spurr said Friday, "I am immensely proud to see Chief Weck step up again to serve our community. Summit’s best days are surely ahead with this committed public servant joining Councilwoman Lisa Allen and Ward 2 Council candidate David Fosgate on the Republican ticket this year. I am confident that Robert Weck will receive overwhelming support in his write-in campaign.”

Weck said Friday, “Even after my retirement from the Summit Police Department, my desire to give back to our outstanding community was undiminished."

He added, "I care deeply about our town and believe that my work ethic, communication skills, and deep relationships in all corners of our community will allow me to help make Summit even better than it already is. I am humbly asking voters to write-in my name for Ward 1 Councilman in the June 8, 2021 primary election.”

Spurr did not respond when asked why Weck or the Republicans didn't file by the deadline.

The race

The Summit Common Council has seven seats: three seats for each of two wards, and one "at large" seat. Each ward seat carries a three-year term; the at-large seat is two years.

The other races are unopposed so far:

• Democrat Beth Little filed for re-election to her council-at-large seat.
• Republican Lisa Allen filed to keep her 2nd Ward seat. She was appointed in February to fill out the term of Steven Bowman, who moved away. His term ends Dec. 31, 2022.

According to the Republicans, Weck joined the Summit Police Department as a patrolman in 1989. In 2011 Weck was appointed by Mayor Jordan Glatt, a Democrat, to serve as the department’s chief. Over nine years he led the department under leadership of three different administrations.

More Summit election information

• The primaries for the Democratic and Republican nomination in New Jersey will be held June 8, with the general election Nov. 2.
• To see which ward you're located in, click the street list here.
• Last November, three candidates ran for two open seats.
• Learn more about the Summit Common Council and its members here.

Got more candidate information for Summit? Send to the email address listed below.

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