New Providence-Berkeley Heights Election Guide

As we look ahead to November’s elections, New Providence-Berkeley Heights Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about political happenings in New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, Union County — and beyond.

Here's our opening salvo in our coverage of the candidates and issues we'll be following as November draws near.

Locally, the hot political issues in Berkeley Heights are and . Patch will continue to follow this the Passaic River flooding issue from the environmental commission's actions to impacts on homeowners to municipal, county and state responses.

As the town looks to attract even more customers to town and attract better ratables, Patch will also follow up on the Berkeley Heights' efforts to form a downtown district following the May breakfast with Mayor Bruno.

In New Providence, a hot political topic is the and the impending sale of the first license.

New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside are also located in the 7th Congressional District. Locals will be choosing between incumbent U.S. Representative Leonard Lance, a Republican, and challenger Upendra Chivukula, a Democrat. It will be an uphill battle for Chivukula: . Chivukula has to enlist support for his campaign.

Local residents will also get to vote for either State Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R) and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D) in the race for one of the two U.S. Senate seats representing New Jersey — currently held by Menendez. Kyrillos has already in his primary election victory speech, calling Menendez a "mediocre" senator and stating, "Our unemployment rate, our soaring national debt, our out-of-control spending—these are all getting worse because of policies that Senator Menendez supports." In a statement on primary election night, Menendez said, he looked "forward to a campaign that will focus on and discuss the differences between us in an honorable way."

Keep watching Patch for coverage through November!