The Alternative Press

SUMMIT, NJ—Two Republicans, Summit Common Council President Richard Madden, who represents Ward II, and former Councilman Albert Dill, Jr., who is seeking to return to the governing body as the First Ward representative, are running unopposed in the Tuesday, Nov.  6 General Election in the city.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor of science degree, Madden served on the personal honor guard to the president at the White House and as commanding officer, of a HAWK Missile Battery in the Marine Corps.

He also holds a masters degree in business administration from the  Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Madden started and managed several companies and “successfully developed markets, budgets and profits.”

He also supervised 600 employees as first chief executive officer of Adidas USA Inc.

The resident of 28 Morris Avenue is married to Paula Mooney. They have five married children.

Dill, a 46-year resident of Summit, will be married 39 years in November. He and his wife have two grown daughters, one of whom still resides in Summit and the other is a resident of Roseland. They have two grandchildren.

During his first stint on the governing body, about 14 years ago, the candidate served on the welfare, law and public works committees.

He also has served as Summit’s representative to the Joint Meeting Sewerage Authority and was a commissioner on the Union County Utilities Authority.

Dill is seeking to replace First Ward Councilwoman Nuris Portuondo who did not seek another term on the council this year.

Madden said his goals are to continue to represent the people of Summit with leadership, teamwork and integrity.

“I thank our Summit taxpayers for supporting my efforts over the past three years. In order to develop reliable future governance from our highly qualified base of young professionals, I encourage volunteers to run for election to council and serve on our numerous boards and committees, regardless of party affiliation,” he added.

As 2010 and 2011 council president pro-tem, Madden pointed out, he served as finance and personnel chair and led efforts to reduce property tax increases and chaired both the auditor and solicitor search committees.

“We have a superior city staff and compatible common council and Mayor Ellen Dickson has been an excellent communicator who advocates total transparency. Aside from my candidacy, we’re lucky to have former Councilman Al Dill ready to serve again. We’re also fortunate to have effective legislators who represent Summit well, including Congressman Leonard Lance, State Senator Tom Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and our own Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz,” the council president added.

As 2012 council president, he noted he has encouraged conciliatory relationships with freeholders and state legislators, organized the first joint meeting of council and the board of education, and stressed fiscal responsibility, public safety, education and ethics as priorities.

“My efforts to develop meaningful bipartisan dialogue have enabled Summit to coordinate ideas with State Senator Ray Lesniak, County Freeholder Chair Al Mirabella, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage and others for the Passaic River litigation, county budget reductions and property tax equalization. Hopefully, many positive results will emerge from these associations,” the councilman said.

He added, “Our future challenges include: flat budgets for the city and board of education; encouraging the county freeholders to budget within the 2 percent spending cap; controlling debt service in this unstable economy; improving city parking; monitoring the Overlook helipad appeal; reconciling our Ameripay mediation; seeking indemnification from the Passaic River litigation; encouraging further downtown development, and implementing shared services and effective corporate and community relations.”

“On behalf of Summit Council, we welcome recommendations to improve our governance,” Madden said.

He added he would like to see a county-wide property revaluation in Union County.

Since his previous stint on the governing body Dill said he has been actively involved in the community and has maintained an interest in how the city has progressed. He believes he can contribute that historical perspective as well as new ideas to a council that has been doing a good job.

The candidate sees the biggest challenges facing the city are keeping taxes low in the face of continually rising costs and the need to continue the high quality of vital services.

Among items that require continued high attention, he said, is maintenance of the city’s roads, fields and infrastructure.

A three-time candidate for freeholder, Dill said the Democrats, who have been in control of county government since 1989, seem to have the attitude that they can do whatever they want while increasing the costs of county government while sending little back to communities like Summit.

That being said, however, the First Ward contender said the council must work with the county government to get as much as it possible for Summit while addressing the fact that taxpayers in the rest of the county pay proportionally much less than the city in property taxes.

He added although an uncontested municipal election is less expensive and takes less effort than a contested election a contested election does generate more excitement, gives residents a better view of the problems and different perspectives on solving them and generates more involvement.

Summit Democratic Chair Terri Tauber told The Alternative Press her party contacted a number of potential council candidates last summer and there were a number of people interested in eventually seeking seats on the governing body.

However, she added, those contacted felt this was not the right year to run and personal, family and career commitments currently stood in the way.

She emphasized the Democratic Party continues to be involved in many facets of Summit life.

“We are here, we are interested and we are not going away,” she added.