Brennan Vows to Continue to Question Council

Democratic mayoral nominee Bill Brennan said he plans to continue to raise questions at council meetings, a move which caused sparks to fly at last night's meeting.

Brennan, who is challenging Republican Mayor Andy Skibitsky this fall, said that Skibitsky's decision to decline one-on-one mayoral debates has led him to decide the meetings are the best way for him to communicate with the mayor. Last night, Brennan went before the council to ask for a delay in passing the Sustainable Jersey resolution, saying he wanted to ask Skibitsky questions first. The mayor is traveling on business in Germany and was not at the meeting last night. Brennan said he did not know that Skibitsky was in Europe. Brennan intended to ask Skibitsky if the environmental proposal was in response to the Democrat's environmental platform.

Council Republicans challenged Brennan's questions during the meeting with Acting Mayor Mark Ciarrocca, who was presiding in Skibitsky's place, reminding Brennan not to campaign from the microphone. Ciarrocca said the public comments section is for residents to ask questions to the council and not for political candidates.

"Mr. Brennan, this is your opportunity for comments to the council," he said. "I would ask you to refrain from turning this into a political debate. This is not a political debate."

Brennan said that he had the right to communicate with the council and mayor in the public comments section and denied that he is using the forum to further his campaign. In an interview following the meeting, Brennan did not say he was using the meeting as a campaign strategy but hinted that it was part of his campaign. Brennan running mate Janice Siegel, who is running for council in the first ward, also questioned the council on environmental issues.

Councilman Jim Foerst suggested to Brennan that if the Democrat wanted to talk with the mayor he attend one of Skibitsky's office hours on Saturday morning. But Foerst said that would likely not happen.

"I guess there will be no newspaper there on Saturday morning," Foerst said.

Brennan after the meeting said it was the Republicans who were being partisan during the meeting. He questioned several council members mentioning that they had a list of Skibitsky administration environmental accomplishments with them during the meeting.

"They have a political agenda. Did Councilwoman Neylan just happen to have a list of 19 (environmental) items?" he said. "They were well prepared on the politics of this issue."

Ciarrocca said the Republican council members were not being political and the list was part of the discussion of the Sustainable Jersey initiative. He placed the partisan ball back in Brennan's court.

"We try to remain non-partisan in town hall because we are trying to do what is in the best interest of the people of Westfield," he said. "I think tonight really is a poor reflection and not what we've tried to do here."