Editing Westfield, New Jersey (section)

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
Westfield is governed under a [[Special charter (New Jersey)|special charter]] granted by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]]. The town is one of 11 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that operate under special charters.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=15 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 15. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and an eight-member Town Council, with all positions filled in partisan elections. The mayor is elected directly by the voters [[at-large]] to a four-year term of office. The Town Council consists of eight members, with two members elected from each of four wards. Town Council members are elected to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with one seat in each ward coming up for election every other year.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 94.</ref> The Town Council holds meetings every two weeks where it discusses legislation under consideration, and which are open to the public.

{{As of|2024}}, the mayor of Westfield is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Michelle W. "Shelley" Brindle, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2025.<ref>[https://www.westfieldnj.gov/mayorbrindle Mayor Shelley Brindle], Town of Westfield. Accessed March 28, 2023.</ref> Members of the Westfield Town Council are Michael Armento (Ward 2; [[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 2027), David M. Contract (Ward 3; D, 2025), Michael J. Dardia (Ward 2; D, 2025), Michal D. Domogala (Ward 3; R, 2027), Linda S. Habgood (Ward 1; D, 2025), David Kiefer (Ward 4; D, 2027), Dawn Mackey (Ward 4; D, 2025),  and Todd B. Saunders (Ward 1; R, 2027).<ref name=Officials>[https://www.westfieldnj.gov/towncouncil Town Council], Town of Westfield. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>[http://www.unioncountyvotes.com/elected-officials/ ''Union County Elected Officials''], [[Union County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/119032/web.317647/#/summary General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/116135/web.303253/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Union2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/111504/web.278093/#/summary General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 3, 2022.</ref>

In April 2022, the Town Council selected Emily Root from a list of three alternatives submitted by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the Ward 1 seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by James Boyes until he resigned from office earlier that month. Root served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when voters then selected her to serve the balance of the original term of office.<ref>[[David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]]. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/root-appointed-to-vacant-westfield-council-seat/ "Root appointed to vacant Westfield council seat Democrat fills vacancy created by resignation of James Boyes"], New Jersey Globe, April 27, 2022. Accessed April 30, 2022. "Emily Root has been appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Westfield Township Council. She is replacing James Boyes, who resigned this month to obviate potential conflicts over a pair of redevelopment projects that are near his home. Root was one of three names submitted to the council by the Democratic County Committee.... Boyes was elected in 2019 and Root will need to run in a November 2022 special election to fill the remaining thirteen months of Boyce’s term."</ref>

==== Emergency services ====

===== Police =====
The Westfield Police Department (WPD) has provided police protection to the town since 1903. The chief of police is Christopher Battiloro, who was appointed to the position in December 2018, after serving for four months on an interim basis.<ref>Kadosh, Matt. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/westfield/articles/chris-battiloro-is-westfield-s-new-police-chief-mayor-says "Chris Battiloro is Westfield's New Police Chief, Mayor Says"], TAP into Westfield, December 12, 2018. Accessed January 6, 2019. "Mayor Shelley Brindle announced the appointment of Christopher Battiloro to the position of chief on Wednesday. Battiloro has been serving as the department’s acting chief for the past four months, following the abrupt departure of former Chief David Wayman."</ref> The department operates a Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Bureau, Records Bureau, Detective Bureau and its own Emergency Services Unit. Westfield's Parking Services also falls under the jurisdiction of the WPD, and is responsible for monitoring parking and traffic safety within Westfield's Central Business District and near schools. The WPD also has a Law Enforcement Explorers Post, Post #90.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goleader.com/08may15/07.pdf|title=The Westfield Leader, May 15, 2008, page 4}}</ref> Each division of the WPD operates different vehicles, most with a black-and-white paint scheme.

===== Fire =====
The Westfield Fire Department was formed in 1875 following a fire that destroyed a city block on East Broad Street.<ref>[http://www.westfieldnj.gov/index.asp?SEC=DFA802EE-2883-4770-924C-00A58CC95A59&Type=B_BASIC History of the Westfield Fire Department], Town of Westfield. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref> The WFD is a combination department with 36 paid/career firefighters and 15 volunteer firefighters. There are four platoons of eight (a Battalion Chief, two Lieutenants and five Firefighters) working a 24-/72-hour work schedule out of two fire stations. Administrative members include the Chief of Department, the Deputy Chief of Operations, and the Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention. The Fire Safety Inspector position in the Fire Prevention Bureau was eliminated in January 2009 due to budget cuts. The Chief of Department is Anthony Tiller.<ref>[https://www.westfieldnj.gov/fire Westfield Fire Department], Town of Westfield. Accessed April 25, 2021.</ref>

[[Westfield Fire Headquarters]], located at 405 North Avenue West, is staffed 24 hours a day by a Battalion Chief (Shift Commander), a lieutenant and three firefighters. These personnel make up the engine company, first due on the north side of town, and the ladder company. A reserve engine company and a utility pick-up are also housed at fire headquarters. The office of the Chief of Department and the Deputy Chief of Operations are located here as well.

Station 2, located at 1029 Central Avenue, is staffed 24 hours a day by a lieutenant and two firefighters. These personnel make up the engine company, first due on the south side of town. A reserve engine company, a utility pick-up, and a spare SUV are also housed at Station 2. The Fire Prevention Bureau is located at Station 2 and houses the office of the Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention.

The WFD in operates a fleet of four E-One Engines (2 x 2,000 GPM & 2 x 1,500 GPM) and 1 Pierce Arrow XT 100' Rearmount Ladder, one support SUV, and three staff 4x4 vehicles. The paint scheme for the older apparatus (Engine 4) is yellow, with the newer apparatus (Ladder 1, Engines 2, 3 & 5) being red bodies with white cabs. The support vehicles, a Ford Pick-Up (Utility 7), a Chevy Pick-Up (Utility 8), and a Jeep Cherokee (Car 9) are red with white striping and the remaining staff vehicles, for Chief Officers, are unmarked Dodge Durangos (Car 1,11,12).

The WFD responds annually to approximately 2,000 calls for service. The WFD serves as a backup EMS agency for the town if the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad is not readily available. All members are CPR-Defib certified with 27 members currently New Jersey certified EMTs with the remaining members trained to the first responder level. Both stations are staffed with FF/EMTs 24 hours a day.

The WFD is also a partner in the Union County Fire Mutual Aid agreement, responding to numerous requests for aid to any of the other 20 municipalities in Union County.<ref>[http://ucnj.org/government/public-safety/emergency-management/mutual-aid/ Mutual Aid], [[Union County, New Jersey]]. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref>

The career firefighters (excluding the Chief and Deputy Chiefs) are members of New Jersey Firefighter's Mutual Benevolent Association (NJ FMBA) Local 30.<ref>[http://www.fmbalocal30.org/ Home page], Westfield FMBA Local #30. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref>

===== Rescue squad =====
The Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad is staffed around the clock by volunteer certified EMTs. Shifts range from 5 hours in the morning and afternoon to 14 hours overnight. The Squad has three ambulances with a crew every shift. Members are paged in the event that another emergency arises and the original crew is answering a medical call. Dispatchers are also volunteers, answering phones directly from the police line.<ref>[http://www.westfieldrescuesquad.org/ Home Page], Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref>

=== Federal, state and county representation ===
Westfield is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#21 Districts by Number for 2011–2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 07}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 21}}

{{NJ Union County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
[[File:Westfield New Jersey Mindowaskin park with buildings and trees and frozen lake.JPG|thumb|right|Presbyterian Church of Westfield as seen from Mindowaskin Park near the downtown area]]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 20,684 registered voters in Westfield, of which 6,485 (31.4% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 5,244 (25.4% vs. 15.3%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 8,942 (43.2% vs. 42.9%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 13 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-union-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary – Union], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref> Among the town's 2010 Census population, 68.2% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 97.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 – State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Westfield|source=<ref>{{Cite web |title=NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=nj.gov}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
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{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|6,216|12,550|257|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|5,824|9,954|565|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|7,555|8,080|147|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|7,541|9,345|154|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|8,037|8,442|110|New Jersey}}
|}

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 8,080 votes (50.9% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 7,555 votes (47.6% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 147 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 15,866 ballots cast by the town's 21,797 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-union.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Union County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201192205/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-union.pdf |date=February 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-union.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Union County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201191259/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-union.pdf |date=February 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 9,345 votes (54.5% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 7,541 votes (44.0% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 154 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 17,141 ballots cast by the town's 21,251 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.7% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-union.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 8,442 votes (50.6% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 8,037 votes (48.2% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 110 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 16,683 ballots cast by the town's 20,441 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.6% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_union_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref>

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017|2017 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Phil Murphy]] received 6,491 votes (55.8% vs. 65.2% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Kim Guadagno]] with 4,978 votes (42.8% vs. 32.6%), and other candidates with 171 votes (1.5% vs. 2.1%), among the 12,007 ballots cast by the town's 22,504 registered voters, for a turnout of 53.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-general-election-results-governor-union.pdf |title=Governor - Union County |date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-gen-elect-ballotscast-results-union.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 7, 2017 - General Election Results - Union County|date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 64.1% of the vote (6,303 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 34.5% (3,394 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (131 votes), among the 10,053 ballots cast by the town's 21,513 registered voters (225 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.7%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-union.pdf |title=Governor – Union County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-union.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast – November 5, 2013 – General Election Results – Union County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 6,070 votes (51.0% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 4,776 votes (40.2% vs. 50.6%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 900 votes (7.6% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 58 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 11,893 ballots cast by the town's 20,982 registered voters, yielding a 56.7% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-union.pdf 2009 Governor: Union County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230050/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-union.pdf |date=October 17, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 24, 2013.</ref>