Haledon names a new councilman

NorthJersey.com
September 8, 2010
By Justin Zaremba

Haledon has a new councilman.

Michael Johnson, a Paterson police detective, was appointed on Sept. 2 to the seat vacated by Daniel Batelli last month.

Batelli was appointed in December - after a lawsuit between the borough and the municipal Democratic committee - to fill the vacancy left by former Councilman Marc Battle who quit last October due to conflicts with his work schedule. Batelli resigned from the position citing health issues and "a lack of support to the governing body."

"I am honored and humbled by Mayor [Domenick] Stampone and the Haledon Democratic County Committee for appointing me to serve my neighbors, friends and family on the borough council," Johnson said.

Johnson, a member of Stampone's council slate along with Council President Maha Kandis and Mounir Almaita, is seeking Battle's one-year unexpired term in November.

Three candidates - Johnson, Almaita, and Sean Duffy - were nominated for the seat on Aug. 24 by the municipal Democratic committee, but Stampone said Johnson's poll numbers during the June primary weighed heavily on the decision.

"Although we had several qualified candidates step forward, the County Committee and I agreed appointing Michael was the fair thing to do as he received the highest number of votes among council candidates in the most recent primary election," Stampone said.

Stampone, who is also the chairman of the municipal Democratic committee, said the governing body would likely reenact the swearing-in on Sept. 16 for the regular council meeting.

Stampone and his council slate beat rival Democrats - Councilman Dom Fusco, Batelli, Michael Boyle, and Fran Mandara - backed by former party boss Gerald Volpe - the mayor's rival for control of the municipal Democratic committee - in the June primary election. Prior to the election, the Volpe-endorsed slate lost a lawsuit seeking the county Democratic organization's endorsement.

Besides the party nomination, Stampone's slate for county committee also claimed 10 of the 12 seats within the municipality including the seats occupied by Volpe and his wife, Cynthia.

Stampone and Volpe were political allies until Stampone blocked Volpe's attempt to secure an $85,000-a-year post with the Manchester Utilities Authority (MUA). Stampone said Volpe has a personal grudge against him, an accusation Volpe has denied.