Union City residents may vote on Tuesday, May 11 for five candidates for the Board of Commissioners. From among those five, one will be chosen mayor from amongst themselves.
Current Mayor Brian Stack is running for re-election. He is technically running as a commissioner, but expects to be chosen mayor if he and his slate of four other commissioners win.
Educator Frank Scarafile is leading the opposing slate and, like Stack, he is running as a commissioner but expects to become the mayor if he and his slate of four other commissioners win.
Below are profiles of the two slate leaders. See sidebar for their running mates.
Stack and ‘Union City First’
The leader of the Union City First slate, Mayor Brian Stack – who is also a state Senator – is aiming for his third term as mayor.
“We’re going to continue the job that we started,” he said. “We’re not perfect, but we work at this.”
Stack said that he and his incumbent commissioners intend to continue working on quality of life issues for residents, increasing park space, and maintaining an open-door policy with the community.
The mayor has become known in Union City for sending out frequent mailings to residents to let them know what’s going on.
Stack bills himself as a passionate politician who does the work simply because he loves it – both on the local level and in the state Senate.
Both positions are considered part-time, and he earns $16,000 as part-time mayor, $49,000 as a senator.
“I don’t do this for the money,” said Stack. “I do it because I love what I do.”
Stack said his team has gotten more done for Union City over the past few years than has been done in the city for 40 years.
Under his leadership, city officials have built several new parks, fostered a burgeoning arts scene, provided a variety of cultural and informational programs, and maintained a hiring freeze at a City Hall for 10 years in an attempt to stabilize taxes and maintain a lean budget.
Stack frequently moves commission meetings around to different locations in order to get more people involved.
Stack was born in Jersey City, but moved to Union City as a child. He received his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Jersey City State College.
He has been involved in Hudson County politics since the early 1980s and first became mayor of Union City in 2000 after having served as a commissioner.
Stack said that if re-elected, he will continue to be a neighbor, friend, and an advocate to the people of Union City.
“That’s a promise I can make,” he said.
In a debate videotaped by the Reporter, Stack was asked about how he could make the city more transparent and accessible. On the city’s website, the calendar of events has not been updated since September, and meeting agendas are not posted as they are in some towns.
Stack said that a new firm has been hired to improve the site. He said that he isn’t satisfied with the current site and knows there is room for improvement.
He has met with some criticism. His opponents say that the flyers and letters he mails to residents are just glossy political flyers.
Stack reiterated that the mailings are paid for by his political funds, not by City Hall. “They’re paid for out of our political funds because we don’t get the coverage that Union City deserves,” he said. “The residents are more than happy to receive these flyers so that they know what’s going on.”
Stack also has been criticized for needing to be in control, and has been accused of getting too involved with Zoning Board decisions. There was a recent controversy in which a longtime board member was found to only live in the city part time.
Stack has not spoken directly about the criticism, but city spokesman Mark Albiez has said that the city makes every effort to ensure that members of town boards are residents of Union City.
For more of Stack’s responses to tough questions, view the debate at www.hudsonreporter.com.
Scarafile and ‘Vision 4 Union City’
Frank Scarafile is the leader of the “Vision 4 Union City” slate.
A married father of two, Scarafile was born and raised in Union City and is currently employed as the superintendent of schools in Little Ferry. Before that, he served as a Union City principal. Scarafile began his career teaching in a Union City elementary school and rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator and also coached basketball at Emerson High School.
He served as a volunteer on the Union City Redevelopment Agency from 2000-2004.
His wife, Soraya Castillo, teaches special education in the Union City School system.
Scarafile said that he and the Vision 4 Union City slate are taking a team approach to governance to not just “work hard” but also “work smart.”
“Something’s missing,” said Scarafile. “That’s what really drives me to do what I do – we don’t have the type of programs that we used to have.”
He has said that one of the first things he will do in office is bring in the Rutgers Center for Government Services, which will help evaluate the efficiency of the municipal government at no cost to the city.
Vison 4 Union City is also calling for the institution of term limits, televised commissioner meetings, and creation of an “Office of Constituent Services” to replace the extensive day-to-day hands-on work that Stack is known for handling.
“Just because [Stack] does it that way does not mean it’s the right way,” said Scarafile. Scarafile would like to see a full-time professional administrator running the day-to-day operations of the city and let the commissioners be the legislative body he says they are called to be.
He added that the part-time job as mayor will not affect his work as superintendent, as a recent letter to parents in Little Ferry from an anonymous “Concerned Parent” stated. Scarafile has alleged that the letter was mailed out by his political opponents in Union City.
“[Mayor is] not a full-time job in Union City,” he said. “None of the other commissioners are doing it full-time, and we don’t hear anything about that.”
Scarafile is also hoping to bring more transparency to Union City’s local government, as well as encouraging more community involvement in all areas, especially on town boards.
He is an advocate for “shared services” among government entities in Union City and with other surrounding towns.
Scarafile received his bachelor’s degree in American History from Rutgers University and a master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision from Jersey City State. He is currently working on his doctorate degree in Teacher Leadership through an online program at Walden University.
In December, Scarafile and some of his allies were arrested in Union City for allegedly handing out letters with a copy of Stack’s signature on them, criticizing things Stack has done wrong. Stack called the matter forgery, saying it was made to look like the letters he sends to the public.
One of Scarafile’s supporters said the letters were political satire. Both sides are fighting about the issue in court.
For more of Scarafile’s responses to tough questions, view the debate at www.hudsonreporter.com.
Making an educated vote
Residents are urged to learn more about their choices for mayor/commissioner by contacting their respective campaign offices. For Union City First, call (201) 863-1831. For Vision 4 Union City, call (201) 867-2300 or visit their website at www.vision4unioncity.com.
A video of an election forum that both candidates participated in is available at www.hudsonreporter.com.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.
The other commission candidates
Brian Stack and Frank Scarafile are running for the Union City Board of Commissioners, but each man is on a slate with four other candidates. When the five commissioners are chosen, they will choose a mayor from among themselves, and Stack and Scarafile expect to be the choices if their slate wins.
Residents can vote for any five commissioners; they do not have to choose only one slate.
Here are short biographies of the other commission candidates:
‘Union City First’
Lucio Fernandez: A graduate of Rutgers University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, Fernandez was born in Cuba and moved to Hudson County at age 9. He has worked in the performing arts for most of his life and first served in a political capacity in 2003 as Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs. He is in his first term as commissioner. He previously served as president of Union City Library Board, and on the Union City daycare board, and as a Board of Education member. He currently works for the Board of Education as Director of Community Relations and also serves as Chairman of the redevelopment board.
Fernandez and his wife founded and run Grace Theatre Workshop which provides free lessons in various fields of the arts to children and adults.
He said that despite the current economic climate, cultural activities in Union City will continue as they have been, with the help and support of community. “Being an artist you have to be very frugal,” said Fernandez. “[And] know how to do things that don’t cost money.”
Fernandez still works as an actor performing his cabaret act, and also paints and writes poetry.
Christopher Irizarry: Born in New York City, Irizarry moved to Union City with his family at the age of 1. A Rutgers University graduate (B.A. in administration of justice) he completed his master’s in public administration at John Jay College in New York. He first ran for office (though unsuccessfully) with Stack in 1998. He first became a commissioner in 2002. Irizarry was previously on the Rent Leveling Board and served as a board member for North Hudson Regional Fire Management in 2000.
He currently works as the Executive Director of North Hudson Community Action Corporation and serves on the boards of Palisades Medical Center, Hudson County ARC, and the Union City Planning Board.
A married father of three, Irizarry said he is proud to be in a position to improve and upon the recreational spaces that he grew up playing on.
Maryury Martinetti: The current Commissioner of Revenue and Finance, Martinetti was born in Ecuador and moved to Union City with her family when she was 8 years old. Martinetti has worked with the Board of Education for 11 years as the medical coordinator and manages the budget for that department. Now a married mother of two, Martinetti said that having children has increased her commitment to creating a community for families. She anticipates the biggest challenge for that department over the next four years will be to stabilize taxes and keep a lean budget.
Tilo Rivas: Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Rivas moved to Union City when he was 22. He has served as a commissioner for eight years and a freeholder for six. He previously served one year on the Board of Education as a trustee and was part of the redevelopment board. Rivas has worked in research and development for Kraft Foods for 30 years. Rivas said he would like to see continued collaboration with his department (Public Works) and the Parks and Recreation Department to continue cleaning up Union City. Married with two children, he has practiced martial arts for 30 years, holds eight black belts, and spends time each day practicing judo.
‘Vision 4 Union City’
Olga Garcia: Married for 25 years, Garcia is also a mother of two. She moved to Union City from Cuba when she was 14. She has worked in social services for 13 years and this is her first time running for political office. “I always liked politics,” said Garcia. “I like to help people.” Garcia has previously volunteered with Cuban refugees and said that as commissioner she would like to help create additional programs and assistance for senior citizens.
She added that she would like to bring back some of the atmosphere that Union City had when she first moved here, by encouraging all types of businesses from stores to factories to set up shop in the city.
Julio Fernandez: Born in the Dominican Republic, Fernandez grew up in Hoboken and moved to Union City as an adult when Hoboken rents began to spike. He has lived in Union City for 24 years and works for UPS. He served for on year on the Zoning Board in Union City and previously ran for commissioner, along with Scarafile, against Stack in 2006. He is also a volunteer for Angels on Earth, a Jersey City based aid organization. A father of four, Fernandez said he would donate his salary as commissioner to school programs and would like to see an increase in recreational programs. “I’d like to see the kids get involved,” said Fernandez. “It takes their mind off the streets.”
Carlos Lopez: A married father of four, Lopez owns a Union City barbershop and works part-time for a telecommunications company. He moved to Union City at age 8 after living in West New York. Lopez began work on his political science degree at Hudson County Community College and finished at John Jay College in New York City. He has worked with the non-profit civic association “My Hope” for the past two years and is a prior member of Hijos de la Luz (Sons of the Light). As a barber, Lopez said he has a special opportunity to hear the problems on the street. “It’s like coming to a psychiatrist,” he said. “They talk to you about things.” Lopez said he’s not concerned about potential titles or positions as commissioner right now, rather, he’d like to focus on how to stabilize taxes for Union City. In his free time he and his family travel, usually to their vacation home in North Carolina.
Mark Pikunich: Born and raised in Union City, Pikunich has been a law enforcement officer since age 22. He studied criminal justice for two years at Morris County College and is currently working at Rahway State Prison. Pikunich said he decided to get involved in politics because “Union City needs a better direction,” and said his main concern is public safety. “People don’t realize that there is a gang problem in the city,” he said. Pikunich would like to address that issue by holding meetings to inform residents and also by putting together a countywide anti-gang unit with the Prosecutor’s Office.
Pikunich added that he would like to see the police come out of politics. “Instead of having officers knocking on doors promoting the mayor,” he said. “I’d rather have them on the street policing.”-LRD