All-women Dover Town Council bloc paves way for November race. Candidates (left to right) Elizabeth Tapia, Alice Plastoris, Krista Seanor, and Sandra Wittner captured a lopsided victory in the June 2 Democratic primary. (Photo/Team Dover) Sandra Wittner, Krista Seanor, Alice Plastoris, and Elizabeth Tapia announced in March that they had formed "Team Dover" to run together for the Dover Town Council. On Tuesday, they took the first step toward that goal with an emphatic victo

Election Day is Tuesday, June 2. Check out the polling locations and sample ballots to help you make informed decisions. Democracy succeeds when informed voters take their civic responsibility seriously. Understand the issues, figure out what the ballot looks like, and make informed choices. Click on your ward to study the sample ballot: WARD 1 BALLOT WARD 2 BALLOT WARD 3 BALLOT WARD 4 BALLOT Now that you know more about the ballot, here are the official polling locations. Yo

Lifelong Dover resident following a 'call to serve' for the Ward 4 position. Austin Nieves touts his experience on the Zoning Board as a stepping stone to Town Council. (Photo/Austin Nieves) 1. What led you to run for Council? It boils down to service. In my household, I was raised to love the Lord and love my neighbor as He loves me. We were taught that serving my neighbors is the best way to honor both of those commands. So I grew up with the deep desire to be of service. T

Ward 4 candidate is a lifelong Dover resident who promises to be an advocate for 'practical solutions, transparency, and responsible decision-making.' Elizabeth Tapia is vying for the Ward 4 Democratic nomination to run for Town Council. (Photo/Elizabeth Tapia) EDITOR'S NOTE: Elizabeth Tapia, who is running for the expiring term held by Ward 4 incumbent Marcos Tapia. Marcos Tapia (D-Ward 4) did not respond to requests to answer the Dover Town Council candidate questionnaire.

Educator and former Dover BOE President inspired to run for contested Ward 2 seat. Krista Seanor says her work as an educator and board member prepared her for being a Town Council member. (Photo/Krista Seanor) EDITOR'S NOTE: Carlos Noriega, a Democrat running against Seanor, did not respond to requests to answer the candidate questionnaire. Krista Seanor has lived in Dover for more than 20 years and has always been active in the community. Find out what motivated her to run

Ward 1 incumbent shares her thoughts on Dover's essential matters. Sandra Wittner (D-1st Ward) is a longtime member of Dover Town Council. (Photo/Sandra Wittner) Longtime Dover Town Council member, an incumbent 1st Ward Democrat, is running unopposed for her seat in the June 2 primary. Wittner answered these questions to help voters get to know her: 1. What led you to run again for Council? I was ready to pass the baton at the end of my fourth term, as I strongly believe in

Town Council approves fireworks budget, tax hike, and plan to sell lots. Dover Council approved the fireworks budget, so the only concern is whether the skies will be clear on the 4th of July. (Photo/Jobert Enanmo) There were fireworks at the May 26 Dover Town Council meeting – just not the kind that have been set off at past sessions. Council approved a contract to pay $38,084 to Schaefer’s Fireworks for the town’s annual fireworks display to celebrate the 4th of July. The c

The tax increase is linked to the skyrocketing costs of employee insurance. Next meeting to be held June 9. Mayor James P. Dodd introduced Dover’s 2026 budget Tuesday evening, which would raise taxes by $17.74 per month or $213 per year, based on an average home assessed at $240,000. He said that cuts had to be made in some departments to offset a 41 percent increase in health benefits, which rose from $3.3 million last year to $4.7 million. Dodd said town residents would ha

The board also approves two new full-time and one new part-time hires at the Dover Police Department. The Town Council unanimously approved the addition of three new Dover Police Department officers at the April 28 meeting. (PHOTO/DOVERNOW.com) The tragic death of Christofer Huamani on the NJTransit tracks near Water Works Park in Dover two weeks ago has prompted town officials into action. During the town council’s second meeting in April, council member Sandra Wittner requ

The board also approved a local land sale and granted new food truck licenses. Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney praised the department's three newest sergeants. (Photo/DOVERNOW) The Dover Town Council approved the promotions of Dover Police Department detectives Samuel Berthoud, Joseph Dodd, and Joel Gotera to the rank of sergeant. The decision was made following a 15-minute executive session at the end of the meeting, after which the legislation was read into the record.

The move allows local developer Roger Gupta to submit a site plan for redevelopment near Crescent Field. Dover Town Council voted 5-4 to approve the first reading of the redevelopment effort for the 46 S. Morris Street rooming house. (Photo/DOVERNOW) The Dover Town Council voted to allow the redevelopment of the rooming house at 46 S Morris Street, located across from Crescent Field and near the train station. The vote comes nearly four months after the council voted to appr

'Team Dover' becomes first to announce run for June Democratic primary. A historic, all-female slate of candidates announced their candidacies for Dover Town Council in the 2026 Democratic primary, to be held on Tuesday, June 2. It's the first time in Dover’s more than 300-year history that a Town Council slate is composed entirely of women. If elected, the slate also would create the Council's first female majority. The candidates, running together under the "Team Dover" mot

The January 1 government reorganization meeting will be the first public meeting in eight months. The doors will be open, and the public is welcome to attend the January 1 Town Council meeting. (Photo/DOVERNOW) By Mario Marroquin Dover Town Council and Mayor James P. Dodd voted to restore in-person access to Town Hall during their last meeting of the year. The legislation was approved by all members present during the meeting, including several members who will no longer be s

Chaotic, contentious public hearing leads to discussion on ‘stacking’ and another meeting. Anxious Dover residents crowded into a room at the Dover Free Library to seek answers about a parking permit program that was supposed to start on January 1. (DOVERNOW Photo/Karen Fucito) By David Chmiel/Photos by Karen Fucito “It’s not a simple solution.” Dover Mayor James P. Dodd delivered the most concise statement during a chaotic and contentious meeting scheduled to review the new

County Executive Board outlines list of ethical violations during election cycle. Mayor Dodd was included in the MCDC calls for DDC resignations. (Photo/Dover Municipal site) By David Chmiel and Mariana Simioni The Morris County Democratic Committee called for the resignation of every member of the Dover Town Municipal Democratic Committee, including Chair Maria Solines and Mayor James P. Dodd, for ethical violations of MCDC bylaws during the 2025 primary and general election

A special meeting was held Friday to introduce the first reading to resolve confusion from the Tuesday meeting. Dover Town Council held a special meeting to discuss Human Resource issues (Photo/DOVERNOW.com) A 15-minute special meeting on Friday resolved a sticky situation regarding job postings that arose during Tuesday evening’s Dover Town Council meeting. The meeting was held after considerable confusion arose during the December 9 meeting regarding Dover municipal job po

Morris Prosecutor closes three-month investigation, finds no evidence of wrongdoing. Dover Police Chief Jonathan Delaney's department was cleared of any wrongdoing in Mayor James P. Dodd's wiretapping claims. (Photo/DOVERNOW.com) On August 27, Dover Mayor James P. Dodd released a video via the town’s social media channels, accusing the Dover Police Department of illegally wiretapping incoming and outgoing Town Hall calls. Flanked by Town Administrator/CFO Ed Ramirez and Munic

Emergency Resolution proposed to pay the unexpected shortfall in the 2025 budget. Dover Town Council will vote on an emergency appropriation resolution to cover $425,000 in accrued legal fees. (Photo/DOVERNOW.com) “Whereas an emergency has arisen with respect to legal expenses and, no adequate provision was made in the 2025 budget for the aforesaid purpose…” That’s how Resolution No. 299-2025 begins. The Dover Town Council will vote on the Resolution at its scheduled meetin

The six-story, 90-unit apartment building on East McFarlan Street is poised to transform the neighborhood and attract new residents to Dover. Construction continues on the six-story, 90-unit 80East development at E. McFarlan and Route 46. (DOVERNOW photo/David Arredondo) Crossroads Companies and CrownPoint Group are nearing completion on the 80East luxury apartment project, slated to open early next year. The six-story, 90-unit building is located at the corner of McFarlan an

Mayor Dodd backs move to pay more than $30,000 to fight claims against Council member in various incidents. Dover Town Hall has been the scene of many Town Council disputes in 2025. (DOVERNOW photo) Dover Town Council voted Tuesday night to approve separate payments of $32,000 and $9,000 to cover councilman Sergio Rodriguez's additional legal fees. The decision was passed by a 5-3-1 vote, with "no" votes from Arturo Santana, Marcos Tapia, and Sandra Wittner, and Rodriguez a