Mayoral candidates fight the odds in Edison

Antonia Ricigiliano had history on her side the moment she unexpectedly won the Democratic nomination for Edison mayor over incumbent Jun Choi earlier this year.

For five decades, Edison voters have elected only Democrats to the mayor's job.

But Dennis Pipala, Ricigliano's Republican opponent in the Nov. 3 election, believes this year he has a strong chance.

Pipala, chairman of the planning board, is battling Ricigliano, a two-term councilwoman, for control of the state's fifth-largest town, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 25,500 to 6,000.

A pair of independents are also running: Peter Cerrato, a local businessman, and Joseph Coyle, former chairman of the town's Neighborhood Preservation Program.

All four candidates will square off in a radio debate at 10 a.m. Tuesday on WCTC-1450 AM.

The town's political landscape was shaken during the primary. Backed by the police and fire unions, Ricigliano ousted Choi, linking the incumbent to rising taxes and secretive government.

Her message heading into the general election: She will stabilize the town's financial problems and downsize government.

"I feel we're drowning," said Ricigliano, 71, who hopes to become Edison's first woman mayor. "We are in such turmoil. You cannot run a community that way."

Pipala, 66, has a similar view. The longtime independent has previously served on the town's board of education. He stepped in for the Republicans this year after Ray Kopwerwhats resigned after the primary.

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