WEST MILFORD - Tuesday is the deadline for Republican candidates for mayor and Township Council to apply, party officials said in a letter to residents this week.
Candidates who would like to be screened by the town's Republican Committee for a spot on the ballot have to have their intent to run information to the committee by Jan. 15, according to the letter.
"This letter shall serve to formally announce the deadline for interested Republicans to submit letters of interest to seek a mayor seat as well as two town council seats on the ballot in 2019," the letter said. "The Republican Party will continue to provide this information to the public annually so that any interested potential candidate has the opportunity to participate in the selection process."
The letter written by GOP Chair Vivienne Erk and Secretary Marilyn Lichtenberg, who is also a township councilwoman, is presented to the residents to find out who is interested in running for a seat in the local races.
Councilmen Lou Signorino and Peter McGuiness's seats are up for election this year as well as a full term for mayor.
Mayor Michele Dale won the seat in November, filling the unexpired one-year term of former Mayor Bettina Bieri, who resigned in September to leave the state.
"According to the bylaws of the West Milford Regular Republican Municipal County Committee, all interested potential candidates are required to submit a written request to the municipal chair of the Republican Party containing a resume by a date established by the chair," the letter states. "The date set by the chair may be no more than 120 days but not less than 75 days prior to the date established by New Jersey state law for the submission of petitions for candidacies in the Republican Primary Election.In accordance with the bylaws, the established deadline for the 2019 candidate letters of interest is Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019."
According to the notice, all letters of interest must include the name, home address, phone number, and e-mail address of the potential candidate for voter registration verification and contacting interested parties.
Letters of interest or questions regarding the candidate selection process can be sent to Vivienne Erk via electronic mail at siouxme88@gmail.com and Marilyn Lichtenberg@ mlichtenberg@optonline.net, and all correspondence must be sent to both email addresses, the notice said.
"I encourage all interested Republicans to consider taking on a leadership role within our community and look forward to keeping the public informed as we go through our party's candidate selection process," Erk said in the letter.