This story was updated on April 6, 2017.
WEST MILFORD — There will be a Republican primary battle again this June to run in November for the two seats on the township council.
Former Councilwomen Michele A. Dale and Vivienne Erk filed petitions with the township clerk to run for the Republican line in the June primary. They will face off against Steven Castronova and Patricia M. Gerst, who received the backing of the township’s Regular Republican Organization in January.
Dale and Erk are running with the slogan “Republicans for Honest Government.”
Both Dale and Erk have served one term on the township council, Dale from 2013 through 2016, Erk from 2012 through 2015. Their experience, they said, is key to why they are running.
“With my career as a financial executive, my strong business skills and fiscal background were evident while serving as your councilwoman from 2014 through 2016,” said Dale in a letter to the Messenger. “I used that experience to demand long-lasting changes to the way information is processed in the preparation of the municipal budget.”
Erk cites her membership on the Newark Watershed Coalition which helped to increase the assessed value of Newark Watershed, resulting in an increase in Newark’s share of township taxes.
Erk is a longtime resident of West Milford, raising her family here. She is a former member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment as well as a volunteer with the West Milford First Aid Squad.
Dale is a lifelong resident of the township and was a longtime volunteer with the Upper Greenwood Lake First Aid Squad. She is also vice chairperson for the municipal Republican County Committee.
Matt Conlon, chairman of the local county committee, said Dale and Erk have been rejected by voters before.
“West Milford’s voters have overwhelmingly rejected both of these candidates in the last two years,” he said, noting that Dale lost last year and Erk the year before.
He said Erk was removed from the county committee for attempts to sabotage its candidates in 2015. What happened was, after not getting the nomination, residents waged a write-in campaign for Erk and Bob Nicholson. The local Republican County Committee, backed up by the Passaic County Republicans, removed her from her elected position on the committee.
“Ms. Dale is running against the organization she is the vice boss of, so she should either support the duly selected Republican candidates – Steve Castronova and Tricia Gerst – or resign her position immediately,” Conlon added.
Contest in November tooWhether or not the Democrats put up candidates for the general election, there will be a contest in November.
Incumbent Councilwomen Ada Erik and Marilyn Lichtenberg hold the seats that are currently up for grabs. Each is serving her second term. They were not chosen by the county committee in January but vowed they would run for reelection, just not in the primary.
“We decided we were running for reelection, but wouldn’t run a primary,” said Erik. They (Republican County Committee) chose not to support us.”
Erik said she and Lichtenberg will run no matter who wins the primary.
“We were contacted by Michele and Vivienne and we said ‘go for it.’ We will run in the general election as Independents.”
“The comments from the Erik/Lichtenberg camp are case in point of why the Republican County Committee did not choose them to run this year,” said Conlon. “This confirms that they have been Republicans In Name Only because their loyalty is solely to themselves, not to the Republican Party or its core principles and values.”
Erik said she is endorsing Dale and Erk in the primary.
“Michele and Vivienne are two very good candidates,” said Erik. “We will definitely endorse them.”
The primary will be held on Tuesday, June 6.