Editor's Note: The following is from the Summit Democrats Picnic Tomorrow Don't miss the Summit Democrats' picnic at Briant Park on Sunday, September 23 from 3 to 5pm.      The picnic will be a potluck event as in prior years.  Bring a dish to share and bring your own chairs/blankets/tables.  We will provide paper products, plasticware and water/lemonade.  We will have some extra tables in case you don't have one to bring.  But if you have tables, please help us out and bring them! Also, we do have a beer/wine permit, so feel free to bring that if you would like.  Please bring your friends …

Mayoral Candidate Name:  Eileen Forman LuddenAge:  46Address:  4 Fremont RoadHometown:  Summit, NJ Employment:   President, Triangulation Consulting LLCCivic Experience:  Serving 2nd term as member of the Advisory Board, City of Summit Department of Community Service; Founding member of TryCan, a nonprofit organization promoting programs for special-needs children; recipient of 2011 Martin Luther King Keeper of the Dream Award from Shaping Summit Together; Union County Women of Excellence Award; Citizen of the Year Award, NJ Psychological Association. Education:  MBA and MA- Communications …

We decided to write this letter together, as your Mayor and At Large Councilman, because we believe we were both elected by a similar coalition of Democrats, Republicans and Independents who believed that we would bring a spirit of public service and non partisanship to our local government.  We realize that you entrusted us to do the best job possible for Summit without regard for party or personal agenda, and we have tried our hardest to do that – even when we have found ourselves on opposite sides of an issue.  Respect for the offices to which we were elected, and, most importantly, …

To the Editor, I write to publicly thank my long-time friend Sandy Bloom for running for Common Council, and to encourage residents of Ward 1 to vote for her. Summit needs Sandy. Summit is a wonderful town at a difficult time. Unfortunately, some of the difficulties we face here are self-inflicted, brought on by stridency and divisiveness among a few of our elected officials. This has not only been brutal for those involved it has taken up time and energy that is better used to address the challenges of the current economic climate and to forge a successful future for the families and …

Dear Neighbors,There are many issues we care about in Summit.  Traffic, safety, schools, trash, parking, drainage, recycling and more.  All of the issues are important, yet the number one concern for most residents is taxes, and the rate at which they keep rising: School Taxes, City Taxes, County Taxes. We need to better control taxes across the board.   The current Council has focused almost exclusively on school and city taxes.  But, the fact is, we can no longer ignore, or worse, alienate the folks who hold the purse strings in Union County.  I believe I am better prepared and positioned …

This past Thursday, the Summit Democrats held a Seniors Tea for an interested group of residents who welcomed the opportunity to meet the candidates for Mayor and Common Council, including  Eileen Forman Ludden for mayor; Susan Dillingham Hairston, At Large; Sandy Bloom, Ward 1; and Dennis White, Ward 2.  Graciously hosted by Betse and Frank Gump,  and co-hosts Esther Toney, and Betsy and Phil Eisner, the  candidates shared their plans for Summit's future, including their program for coordinating and strengthening services for Seniors across the community.  Highlighting the afternoon was a …

The question I hear most often these days, is: Why would you want to be Mayor?! I’m serving my second term on the Advisory Board for the Department of Community Programs, which works for seniors, youth, and community recreation. As a result, I attend a lot of Common Council meetings, and I don’t like what I see. Chronic wrangling has damaged Council’s ability to work for the common good. I am running for Mayor to help Summit get a fresh start. I have the mix of experience and skill to help Council refocus on conducting all of its business with clear goals, efficiency, and community input. …

Editor's Note: This opinion piece was updated by Dennis White on Saturday Sept. 17 to provide attribution to his opponent's quote.  My opponent for the Common Council seat in Ward 2 supports “explore moving to an elected school board” (Summit Patch, July 18, 2011), citing a supposed decline in Summit public schools.  I disagree.  I believe a school board appointed by the Mayor has served Summit well, and we should spend our time and resources on more pressing issues. How have our schools performed under an appointed board? According to the facts, very well.  Summit students excel academically…

Dear Ward 1 Voters: This is one of my favorite times of the year in Summit when many people have left town for vacations and the city is relatively empty and quiet.  If you want to find activity, you head for the pools or maybe one of our ice cream stores.  Standing in front of Magic Fountain some August evening enjoying my cone and the pleasure of running into a few old friends is my idea of a perfect Summit moment.  It is part of the many pleasurable experiences we have all enjoyed from living in a community that offers us so much.   My husband and I have lived in Summit for 33 years.  We …

Growing up on Ashwood Avenue, I felt like the luckiest kid in the world — living just down the street from the new Summit Community Pool and within walking distance of the Edison Recreation Center, where we roller-skated after school. During the school year, from Jefferson School through Summit High, my teachers gave generously of their time to make sure we learned the academic skills necessary for success. In the summers, we spent our days with legendary playground supervisors, Willie Wilson to name one, under the watchful eye of Mr. Dom Guida.  Only years later did I begin to understand …

As a candidate for Common Council, Ward 2, I’ve been out walking this summer, meeting fellow residents and hearing what’s on their minds. People almost always talk about why Summit is such a great place to live: friendly neighborhoods, a high-quality school system that nurtures academic, artistic and athletic achievement for all, a city government that does a good job of delivering a broad range of public services and a community with a mix of people from diverse backgrounds. I agree. Summit is not perfect, but we have so many assets to build on if we can work together in an open and …