By Ron Leir
Observer Correspondent
KEARNY –
Now only three remain. A second member of the five-person dissident Democratic ticket, swept into municipal office by Kearny voters in 2003, is stepping down from her post.
Councilwoman Alexa C. Arce, who was elected to a First Ward seat on the Town Council in 2003, announced at Tuesday night’s council session that she was resigning, effective Jan. 5, 2015.
“I’m expecting my first child in a few weeks,” Arce said, “so I’ll be focused elsewhere.” Arce, who will be relocating from Kearny to be close to other family members, said she “thought it over so long” before concluding that separating herself from the demands of government service was the right thing to do.
She’ll also be taking some time off from her job as a manager for the Bank of America.
Mayor Alberto Santos, who ran with Arce as head of the slate opposing the HCDO (Hudson County Democratic Organization)-backed ticket led by James Mangin, said that the local Dems county committee, which he chairs, has 15 days from the day Arce’s seat is vacated to submit the names of three nominees to temporarily fill the seat.
The Town Council, he said, has 30 days from the time of the vacancy to pick one of the three to fill out the balance of Arce’s unexpired term, which is two years.
“Being a public servant is not easy,” said Arce. Looking back on her elective career, she said she’d be able to recall “some wonderful moments … [like] the creation of a new park in the First Ward, but also some tough choices.”
Perhaps the hardest choice she faced, Arce suggested, was accepting the offer to run for office in the first place and then, once she agreed, she was intensely engaged “in a full primary battle.”
No regrets, though, Arce added. “I’ve enjoyed working with all of you,” she told her fellow council members.
And, judging from her colleagues’ comments, the feeling was mutual.
Said Santos: “It was an honor to work with you. You’ve been consistent and responsible throughout,” despite what the mayor characterized as the initial “theatrics” from the opposition “when local government was not operating effectively.”
Santos credited Arce for her candor. “You’d always tell me where you stood,” he said, “but your focus was always on practicality and getting things done for the community.”
Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle, the Third Ward candidate on that 2003 ticket, thanked Arce “for rounding up those Bank of America volunteers for our [annual Passaic] river cleanup. I’ve enjoyed working with you.”
The Fourth Ward candidate on the ticket, Councilman Michael Landy, commended Arce for her “calm and logical” approach, even in the heat of debate, and for her “reassuring voice” that all would be well.
The fifth member of the team, Barbara Cifelli-Sherry, resigned from her Second Ward council seat in October 2009 after moving to the Third Ward. She subsequently ran, successfully, for the Board of Education last year.
Arce’s First Ward counterpart, Councilman Albino Cardoso said he was “very proud” to have supported her in 2003 and, after he was elected to the council, “You were always at my side to teach me everything.”
Third Ward Councilwoman Eileen Eckel joined the chorus, telling Arce, “You’re one of those rare people who brings out the best in all of us. I appreciate your friendship and counsel over the years,” especially, being “sassy,” she said.
And Fourth Ward Councilwoman Susan McCurrie offered this tribute: “I’ll miss you …. You’re going for a good cause.”
During her 11 years on the council, Arce has served as chairperson for the Transportation Committee and a member of the Police, Water and Recreation Committees. Most recently, she was the council liaison to the Planning Board.
She has volunteered and fundraised for March of Dimes Walk America, Project HOPE (Homebound Outreach Project for the Elderly) at Beth Israel Medical Center, AIDS Walk and Making Strides – Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer.
Recounting that bitterly contested 2003 Primary contest, Santos said the slate aligned with the HCDO was placed on Line A of the ballot while, “we were kicked over to Line E.”
The dissident ticket didn’t mind “working with the county,” Santos said, but its members also wanted to give Kearny residents more of a say in running the town, he added.
“Our ticket won by a 2-1 margin,” the mayor said and the victory gave the dissidents at 7-2 majority on the governing body – which became 9-0 a few years later.
