Meet Our Candidates

Joe Alessi

Joe Alessi has held the position of Mayor of North Caldwell since 2010 and was a member of the Council since 2002. He was a practicing attorney for 41 years, worked on Wall Street, was an Essex County Assistant Prosecutor for 5 years, and then opened his own general practice. He retired in 2021 and has just started a part-time job with the Essex County Utility Authority, thereby enabling him to have more time for his mayoral duties. Joe is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and received his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall Law School. He was an editor for the Seton Hall Law Review. He also attended Montclair Academy.

As a small business owner, Mayor Alessi understands the challenges facing a North Jersey business community experiencing economic uncertainty and rising costs.

Joe has lived in North Caldwell with his loving wife, Diane, since 1988. Together, they have two daughters.

Ken Tilton

Councilman Ken Tilton is running for re-election because he understands the importance of maintaining a fiscally responsible approach to local governance while protecting the community values that make North Caldwell a great place to call home.

As a successful businessman managing multiple companies, Councilman Tilton recognizes the critical balance of budgetary restraint and finding opportunities to expand economic opportunity to the residents of North Caldwell. He is a graduate of Montclair Kimberley Academy and Boston College with a degree in Environmental Geosciences.

Ken and his wife, Laura, who have two young daughters in our public schools, are committed to giving back to the community by participating in multiple charitable causes.

Ken is a founding member of the North Caldwell Police Foundation and currently serves as its Co-President.

Lara Schlachter

Lara Schlachter, a candidate for Council, enjoys a successful career as a performer and teacher of music and theater. She currently teaches in her own private piano studio and directs plays through TPAPNJ. Over the years, she has worked with all ages from babies to the elderly in nursing homes. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Music Business Entertainment. Her top priorities are to protect the community values that drew her and her family to North Caldwell in the first place: the small-town feel, low taxes, and quality public schools.

Lara has worked with other local parents running Grandview’s Saturday Pre-K Program, running the Books and Beyond Program, and as a class parent. Her husband, Ivan, is active in the community through coaching rec sports. She is a true believer in public service and volunteerism. Whenever she sees a need, Lara quickly jumps in to fill it.

As a mother of two young children, Lara brings her passion and creativity and ability to think outside the box to help lead North Caldwell into the future.