Signs flew and drinks flowed while tropical rhythms blared through the speakers at a social club in Union City Tuesday night. The crowd was awaiting election results and the arrival of their own “rock star” – Mayor Brian Stack and his Board of Commissioners.
Even though the five incumbents faced opposition from educator Frank Scarafile and his slate, the popular mayor won a landslide victory. In Union City’s form of government, five commissioners are elected to run the city, and from among themselves, they choose a mayor.
“The victory really is attributed to the people of Union City.” – Brian Stack
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The numbers were as follows:
Brian P. Stack: 10,745
Lucio P. Fernandez: 9,954
Tilo E. Rivas: 9,903
Christopher F. Irizarry: 9,901
Maryury Martinetti: 9,847
Frank R. Scarafile: 1,139
Carlos F. Lopez: 1,087
Olga Garcia: 1,087
Julio A. Fernandez: 1,068
Mark A. Pikunich: 1,036
Write-in Votes: 38
‘Great victory’
“This is a great victory for you and all of your hard work,” said Stack to the crowd when he arrived on stage. “You were the ones that made it possible.”
Stack was visibly and audibly ecstatic about the margin of victory. He said that although he never sets (or admits) a goal for election day, he always wanted to hit 10,000 votes in Union City.
“There’s no better victory than when you work together as a community,” said Stack to the crowd, “when you work together as a team and provide good government.”
Stack danced a little jig and drank the glass of wine he had promised himself after the election was over.
But his eyes were already set on the work ahead of him.
Even more for the next four
Stack said later in the evening that although he was proud of the campaign his team ran, their success was due more to the public’s appreciation of the way their administration operates openly and for the people.
“Even with people being down on politics, they still came out,” he said. “And that speaks volumes about Union City.”
Stack said he is committed to working even more extensive hours than he already is for his constituency and reiterated his well known saying: “It’s not a job; it’s what I love to do.”
Technically, the job of mayor is a part-time one, for which Stack earns $16,000 per year. He is also a state senator.
Stack’s fellow commissioners said last week that now that the election is over, the work is just beginning.
Commissioner Chris Irizarry proclaimed, during his victory speech, that his keys to City Hall belong to the people.
“I just want to continue working hard,” said Irizarry. “I’m excited to get back to work and continue the great work we’ve been doing for the city.”
Commissioner Maryury Martinetti gave extensive appreciation to her mother and husband for their support and said that she plans on giving the same support to the people of Union City.
Commissioner Lucio Fernandez said he was “super happy” with the results and plans to continue doing more of what he has done the past four years as Commissioner of Public Affairs – more events, more work with the seniors, and more arts.
Stack had also detailed some upcoming plans during an election forum taped by the Reporter before the election, including hiring a contractor to upgrade the city’s website and make it more user friendly. Right now, it fails to include up-to-date events, as well as meeting information and resolutions.
Scarafile accepts defeat
Challenger Frank Scarafile said that although he didn’t expect to do worse this time around than in previous years, he’s accepting the people’s decision and focusing on the future.
“The people spoke,” he said. “For their sake, I hope it all works out.”
Scarafile and Stack had engaged in a fierce battle, with both suing each other over campaign literature attacking Stack last December. More recent literature had attacked Scarafile’s team.
Scarafile and his group had said that Stack has gotten too involved with the day-to-day operations and small matters in the city, when the role of mayor is to be legislative. They say he has had too much control over appointments to boards like the Zoning Board and hiring in the school system.
Still, Scarafile noted that he would gladly help out with the current administration, if they would accept his participation.
Scarafile commended the Vision 4 Union City team for putting forth a valiant effort with little money and few volunteers, which he likened to fighting with water pistols against tanks.
Although he couldn’t say whether he would run again in the future, he did promise that he and his team would continue to keep an eye on City Hall and “point out the facts.”
“We are planning to keep our headquarters open,” said Scarafile. “We’re going to be an advocate for the people of Union City. People have to start realizing that all is not what it seems; all is not what is reported on the glossy flyers.”
Vision 4 Union City had touted an elected Board of Education as one of their goals if elected to office, an issue which Scarafile and other Stack critics still intend to pursue.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.