In as heavily a Democratic county as Hudson County, it is no surprise that the voters in West New York and Union City came out strong for the state Democratic candidates during the Nov. 6 election. What is striking is how many voters rolled out of bed earlier than usual to cast their ballot.
This election was the first after new legislation sponsored by West New York Mayor and Assemblyman Albio Sires made the polls open one hour earlier than usual – at 6 a.m. Legislation sponsored by local Assemblyman Albio Sires that requires polling places to open an hour earlier was signed into law on Sept. 16 by Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco, making the Nov. 6 election the first election to take place since the new legislation. Prior to the new law, polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"Adding an extra hour for the polls to be open in the morning enables more individuals to vote before starting their work day," said Sires. "This will promote greater voter participation and, in turn, strengthen our cherished democratic process."
While not everyone took advantage of the extra hour, some West New York residents were able to vote on their way to work.
"There have been a few," said Caridad Parets who was working the polls at Public School No. 2 on 52nd Street and Broadway. "I guess they were coming before work."
West New York resident James Long liked the change.
"Having the polls open an hour earlier is a great idea," he said outside the Mayfair Theater voting booth on Park Avenue. "Now I can get to work on time."
West New York resident Mary Savino enjoys voting as early as possible to avoid long lines.
"I always vote as early as I can," said Savino, voting at Memorial High School on 55th Street and Park Avenue. "This way I beat the traffic."
The new hours also appeal to the town’s residents that have moved into the town from Manhattan.
"I am from New York, where the polls always opened at 6 a.m.," said West New York resident Margaret Baumann, voting at the Mayfair Theater located at 6405 Park Ave.
"People should be awarded every possible opportunity to voice their opinions without worrying about fitting more activities into their already busy schedules," said Sires.
Overall, the election had a large turnout. In West New York, 5,578 votes went to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim McGreevey and 2,448 went to Republican Bret Schundler. In Union City, 9,510 people voted for McGreevey and 3,072 went to Schundler. Both votes helped McGreevey become the first Democratic governor in the state in eight years.
Throughout the 33rd District, which includes Union City, West New York, Weehawken, Guttenberg, Hoboken, and parts of downtown Jersey City, Sires was re-elected for his second term on the State Assembly with 27,507 votes. Union City Revenue and Finance Commissioner Ralph Fraguela won his first term with the Assembly with 27,477 votes.
Union City voters also showed their support for Mayor Brian Stack when more than 10,000 people voted for him last week. He ran unopposed.
"The turnout was tremendous," said Stack from his office the day after the election. "It is a nice vote of confidence for me. It tells me that our message was right on target."
In Union City, a person is not actually elected mayor. People are elected to the five-member Board of Commissioners, and then the board votes for one member to be mayor. So technically, Stack was running unopposed for his seat on the city’s Board of Commissioners.
The commissioners can officially re-elect Stack as mayor at their next meeting on Nov. 13.
The election of Stack was a special election. He was appointed commissioner and mayor by the board in October 2000 after former mayor Raul "Rudy" Garcia resigned. Stack was appointed to fulfill Garcia’s term and will have to run again during the regular municipal election in May.
"I am going to work even harder for the people of Union City," said Stack. "I want to keep the people’s confidence for as long as I am mayor of Union City."