Dumont Republicans

12/04/2024

Come out next Wednesday and celebrate Dumont's newly elected officials along with the 2024 Council Candidates!

09/11/2023

07/11/2023

Today is Election! Polls are open until 8pm 🇺🇸
Every vote matters and we are counting on your support to turn Dumont in the right direction

07/11/2023

***Message from Council President JOHN RUSSELL***

My name is John Russell and I am the Republican candidate for Mayor. I am a proud lifelong Dumont resident. I've been married 24 years and have one son who is a successful graduate of a quality Dumont School system. As your current Council President, and Acting Mayor for most of the past year for our absentee mayor, I've made it my personal mission to foster cooperation among our Council’s Republicans and Democrats, the likes of which Dumont hasn’t seen in many, many years. Cooperation and working together is the key to Dumont's success. More listening - and less talking - is vital. To that end, I have been an advocate for promoting discourse among ALL Council members and I made sure to put a stop to the mistreatment of residents at meetings. Today, when residents ask questions, they get answers! In humbly asking for your support and vote this coming Tuesday, I pledge to continue building on our wave of good things for our community. I further pledge to continue working on the many difficult issues facing our town and its residents.

07/11/2023

I hope this finds you in good spirits. As my political campaign in Dumont draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the entire community for your outpouring of support and strong encouragement.

To my esteemed running mates and those working behind the scenes, I am grateful for the camaraderie and teamwork we have shared throughout this electoral process. Your passion for the well-being of our community and your commitment to making a positive impact have been truly commendable. It has been an honor to stand alongside such dedicated and passionate individuals.

To the people of Dumont, your encouragement, engagement, and insightful feedback have been the driving force behind our collective efforts. Your trust and belief in our vision for a better and brighter future have been the cornerstone of our campaign. I am humbled by your support and inspired by your commitment to our shared goals.

I’d especially like to thank those that took the time to challenge our positions and engage in thoughtful and friendly debate as we walked door-to-door introducing ourselves. This is what community engagement is all about.

I’d be remiss if I did not mention one recurring theme. Let us not forget those in our community that are elderly or infirm; those that may need assistance in times of need. Take a little time to shovel your neighbor’s walk when it snows or blow their leaves to the curb. That’s what community is about.

Regardless of the election outcome, let us remain united in our mission to uplift and strengthen our beloved Dumont. Together, we can continue to work towards creating a more prosperous and inclusive community for all.

Thank you once again for your invaluable support and for being the backbone of our campaign. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for us as a community.

Warm regards,
Chris Kourelakos

06/11/2023

My name is Dan LaBarbera and with the election just a day away I would like to reintroduce myself as one of the Republican candidates for Council. I am a proud Dumont homeowner, husband and father, who is excited for the opportunity to help lead Dumont in the right direction.

Recognized for my philanthropic efforts and tireless work raising money for natural disaster victims, I genuinely want to assist my community and those in need. I want to help everyone in this town regardless of political affiliation. Community service will be the forefront of my efforts if elected. This town desperately needs volunteers with the town's best interests at heart and I plan to lead the efforts in building on our current base. I think community events are a huge part of what makes Dumont such a great town. I want to lead in the efforts of reducing most of the financial burden by working with sponsors and volunteers.

My question to everyone here in Dumont is, “How can I help”?

With common sense principles and sound judgment, I am an advocate for responsible spending. I jumped at the opportunity to throw my hat in the ring for Councilman at a time when my skills and dedication are needed most. The deteriorating roads, gross mismanagement of taxpayer funds, neighborhood flooding issues, and dilapidated park and public areas need to be addressed. I am also committed to making sure that our sports and recreational programs and all activities meet the growing needs of our children and adults of all ages. I am mission driven and I get results!

Together with your support, we turned the tide last year in Dumont. Again and together, we will ride our new wave of RESPONSIBLE SPENDING and COMMON-SENSE SOLUTIONS to the issues confronting our community. By working together, and with your vote, we will ensure that a better community becomes the reality of our town’s tomorrows.

04/11/2023

My name is Chris Kourelakos and I am a Republican candidate for the Dumont Council.

I’ve been married for 32 years, a resident of Dumont for 31 years, and the proud parent of two children, both of whom are Dumont High School and Rutgers graduates.

I’ve recently retired from a 35-year financial career with the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA), a Fortune 500 financial services firm, where I managed multi-million-dollar vendor and resource contracts and an international staff. In the process, I was able to identify numerous areas for multi-million dollar, year-on-year savings by consolidating staff and renegotiating out of date contracts.

Possessing a BS in Business Administration and Information Systems, I am a US Air Force Veteran who played an integral role in our nation’s command and control readiness and space shuttle program.

I can offer Dumont leadership, business management expertise, and critical thinking, which has already identified potential shared service opportunities for our town to help reduce municipal spending and to bring much needed tax sanity for Dumont taxpayers.

I can, and will, devote 100% of my time and energy to ensure Dumont remains the great town that we all love.

03/11/2023

Sadly, the local campaigns of our Dumont opponents are riddled with falsehoods, fairytales, and manufactured statements. One example: our boro attorney's legal fees are WELL below the FORMER attorney’s bills and the bulk of this years' attorney fees are for OLDER lawsuits & the chronic issues with the new boro hall. You probably already knew that. However, I personally have no intention of taking part in deceitful misinformation, a symbol of last-minute political desperation.

Yet I would be remiss if I didn't apologize to our borough attorney for my opponent's malicious attack upon him. Our attorney is a good, honest individual who has proven repeatedly to have Dumont’s best interests at heart. To further assert that Republicans do not support our local Police Department is utter nonsense and completely untrue. I support and value the men and women of our Police Department and will strive for a more equitable contract with the PBA than the current one -- which prompted mass departures from experienced officers and sets pay rates for the newest recruits below NJ minimum wage.

Here’s what I believe is important for you to know …

I believe that residents and voters want no part of mud slinging or vitriolic attacks. I also believe myself to be an open, sincere and transparent individual – even humble if I may say so. As Council President, and Acting Mayor for most of the past year for our absentee mayor, I've worked hard to foster cooperation among our Council’s Republicans and Democrats, the likes of which Dumont hasn’t seen in recent years. Cooperation is the key to Dumont's success.
And listening - not talking - is the key to Dumont's success.

I have been an advocate for promoting discourse among ALL Council members -- where no one is alienated or stripped from committees for disagreeing. I made certain, when acting as mayor, to put a stop to the mistreatment of residents at meetings. Today, when residents ask questions, they get answers! Not gavel banging. Not feigned interest. Not blank stares. Or cell phone looks. I have accomplished these things, not by promoting myself, nor by spewing misinformation, but by quietly working together with the current council in a bi-partisan manner - in stark contrast to the current mayor and his hand-picked candidates.

I‘m humbly asking for your support and vote on Election Day next Tuesday; I pledge to continue building our wave of good things for our community. I pledge to continue working on the many difficult issues facing our town.

And always remember -- when our opponents go low, we go high!

John Russell
Dumont Council President

30/10/2023

Update: Dumont Arts, Beautification & Economic Development committee has been aware of the clock - they are on top of things!



The Dumont Clock



As many of you know, over the past month or so, I've been knocking on doors in Dumont, introducing myself to my neighbors, and discussing the issues we face as Dumont residents.



There is almost universal agreement on many of the large issues: Debt, Taxes, Road Repair, and Transparency in Government – all which need to be addressed.



Let's not forget that there are also the "little" issues that people care about that are often overlooked.



One person I talked to asked me if I could follow up on one of the "little" issues: What happened to the clock from the old Borough Hall? She had asked several people "around town" but no one seemed to know.



I promised to investigate.



I called a current member of the Dumont Council who told me that the clock was safely in storage in a DPW warehouse.



That night I texted that person with the good news.



The next morning, I took photos as "proof of life" (first photo).



As a bonus, DPW has also "saved" an old wooden phone box (second photo).



Let's have a community conversation as to how or where we can best preserve and show off a small part of Dumont's history.



Perhaps the Dumont Arts, Beautification & Economic Development committee can take the lead?



Maybe we can get the Scouts involved?



All suggestions are welcome!



Thanks.

Chris Kourelakos

09/10/2023

Happy Columbus Day! Today we not only celebrate Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas but all of the contributions that Italian Americans have made for this country. 🇮🇹🇺🇸

04/10/2023

Join the Dumont Republican Candidates for a Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner on 10/15 🍝

18/09/2023

Join us this Sunday, September 24th at 5pm
We hope to see you there! 🐘🇺🇸

13/09/2023

A beautiful view of the Camp Merritt Memorial Monument which is located between Dumont and Cresskill. This monument is dedicated to those who passed at Camp Merritt during World War 1. The memorial, which is modeled after the Washington Monument, lists the names of 15 officers, 558 enlisted men, 4 nurses, and 1 civilian who all lost their lives at the camp. This photo is a perfect representation of all the beauty and noteworthy history the Dumont Republicans see in our community.

Photo Credit: Dan LaBarbera

08/09/2023

Despite the lingering heat, summer is coming to an end and the school year has begun. May this be a great year for all of the students and faculty in Dumont. Go Huskies!
The Dumont Republicans are committed to our community and value the importance of our education system.

Photo Credit: Daniel Labarbera