Springfield Election Guide

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Springfield Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about political happenings in Springfield, 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.

Two incumbent Township Committee members are seeking reeleection this year, Republicans and . Deputy Mayor Fernandez and Committee member Krauss were both elected to office for the first time in 2009. Krauss is a retired Army Major who served in Iraq who is now a Senior Program Analyst for his own company, Subsystem Technologies. Fernandez, who has been instrumental in drafting two township budgets and changing Springfield's , owns the Harrison restaurant the Spanish Pavillion, the oldest Spanish restaurant in the Ironbound area. Fernandez and his restaurant were featured on the reality show . 

Their Democratic opponents in November are former Chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and former Township Committee member . Bandrowski, the president of , oversaw last year's . As the managing director of a private equity firm, Barnett oversees several technology and manufacturing companies.

Perennial Springfield issues like downtown redevelopment and public safety are sure to be central to the race. In addition, more recent topics such as changes to the Board of Health, the lasting impact of Tropical Storm Irene and athletic turf fields for Dayton are certain to factor in. 

Springfield is 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.

Springfield 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, who was endorsed by , 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!