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www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 271
See Knapik, Page 8
that life is worth living then your belief will create the fact.” — ARTHUR MILLER
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
75 cents
Some Westfield City Council seats shuffled
Knapik’s departure appears imminent By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Mayor-elect Brian Sullivan will get a head start on his new position as Mayor Daniel M. Knapik appears to be poised to move on to his next career two months short of the expiration of his third term in office. A source close to Mayor Knapik who could not speak on the record has indicated that word on Knapik’s official role with the state will be issued later this week but hinted that the mayor’s post could be vacated as soon as the end of this week. The fact that Knapik has interviewed for a number of jobs in other municipalities last spring is public information. Knapik withdrew his candidacy from several of those posts because the timing of assuming those posts conflicted with the approval of the city’s 2016 fiscal year budget. Mayor Knapik recently made reference to his pending departure at both a ribbon cutting ceremony and his monthly Chamber of Commerce coffee hour where he stated that his participation at those events as mayor will be among his last official duties. Knapik has been seeking a job based upon his tenure in city government, three terms as mayor and four terms on the City Council, as well as his years of experience in the field of environmental science from his private sector employment. Knapik recently declined to provide the details of his new position and the duties it will entail, stating that the agency at which he is applying is mindful of the on-going municipal election and did not wish “to steal” the limelight from the local candidates. Ironically, Knapik was one of those candidates to win election as an At-large City Council member on Tuesday. “I started on the City Council,” Knapik said recently. “I always loved that job. I was glad to serve six years as mayor, but I really never wanted to leave the council. The major issues facing the city in 2009, when I decided to run for mayor, have been addressed, so it’s time to move on.” Knapik cited three achievements during his tenure as mayor: singlestream recycling, an increase in the city’s bond ratings, and construction of the new Senior Center at the Mary Noble Estates.
“If you believe
MAYOR ELECT BRIAN P. SULLIVAN
Brian Sullivan takes Westfield mayoral race By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Mayor Elect Brian P. Sullivan defeated opponent Michael L. Roeder by 1,001 votes according to unofficial results of the city’s general election released shortly before 8 p.m. by the City Clerk’s office. Roeder, whose mayoral bid against outgoing Mayor Daniel M. Knapik two years ago fell short by 332 ballots, took only one precinct, Ward 4, Precinct 1 where he out polled Sullivan by 172-161. Sullivan led in all other of the 11 voting precincts. A total of 7,962 registered voters, 34.08 percent, cast ballots in the general election with Sullivan garnering 4,421 to
Roeder’s 3,420. Sullivan, speaking to supporters at the Tavern Restaurant downtown, following the release of the polling numbers, asked those supporters to continue working with him during the next two years. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” Sullivan said. “This has been a great campaign based on all of you helping out.” “This is just the beginning. I need you to be there when I have questions and I will be there when you have questions, for the next two years we’ll do this together,” Sullivan said. “This is just the See Sullivan, Page 3
Sullivan speaks with supporters at the Tavern Restaurant.
(Photos by Lynn F. Boscher)
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer and AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – All five incumbent City Council members won another term Tuesday, as did Mayor Daniel M. Knapik who returns to the City Council after finishing sixth in the polling. Steve Dondley won his first term on the City Council as the seventh At-large member, narrowly out pacing John J. Beltrandi who came in just three votes behind Dondley. There will also be new councilors in wards 1, 3 and 6. Mary Ann Babinski took Ward 1 from incumbent Christopher Keefe by 149 ballots. Two years ago Babinski missed taking the Ward 1 seat by just 10 votes Andrew K. Surprise defeated Ward 3 incumbent Brian Hoose by a margin of 102 votes and the voters of Ward 6, where incumbent Christopher Crean chose not to stand for reelection, are sending Planning Board vice chairman William J. Onyski to the council. “It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off in the end,” Surprise said. He said he talked to a lot of people and knows what the people care about now. “Thank you for the people who voted for me, and I’ll do my best not to let you down,” he said. Onyski defeated Cheryl L. Crowe, also a Planning Board member, by 290 votes. Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell turned aside a challenge for her seat by Katherine Z. Bentrewicz by a margin of just 50 votes. O’Connell, who won her sixth term and is now the longest continuously serving member of the council, although Brent B. Bean has served more years total, said this morning that she spoke with several councilors to foster cooperation in the city legislative branch. “I’ve already reached out to some of the councilors whom I have not gotten along with in the past,” O’Connell said this morning. “We are all committing to work together. It’s time to get serious and put past disagreements behind us.” Bentrewicz said this morning that she learned a lot about the campaign process, experience she will use in two years in another bid to unseat O’Connell. “I feel really good, I’m going to do it again in two years,” Bentrewicz said. “I’ll work hard so those 50 people know who I am. It’s really exciting.” Bentrewicz said that she and her supporters had little experience in campaigning. “So we have two years to get it right,” she said. “We kept it nice. I’m proud of myself, my supporters, I learned a lot. I’m already excited for the next time.” The Ward 6 race was the first race of the night to be called shortly after 7 p.m. and it was the first run at an elected office for both candidates. “I wish him a lot of luck on the City Council,” Crowe See City Council, Page 7
Rollercoaster ride at Roeder’s campaign headquarters hadn’t made it. It turned out that the station had flipped the numbers, and Brian Sullivan had won the race 4,421 votes to 3,420. “I never thought it would end like this, with a clerical error,” Roeder said, acknowledging defeat. “I thank everyone who helped me out. It’s been a lot of fun. I met some great people.” As for the mistake, Roeder said, “I’ll get over it tomorrow when I’m out raking See Roeder, Page 3
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By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – For the briefest of moments, Mike Roeder raised his hands in victory as the results scrolling on the bottom of Channel 22 news declared him the winner of the mayoral race in Westfield. Moments before, Dave Flaherty had come from City Hall to the Tekoa Country Club where Roeder, his family and supporters had gathered to await the results. The numbers were looking good, when Flaherty told him he
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Roeder and wife Catherine thank supporters.
(Photos by Marc St.Onge)
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