Council Candidates Counter Web Comments As Polls Open

As polls open for today's Village Council election, the four candidates ramp up their campaigns while quelling some online controversy. 

Candidates Tom Riche, Brian Dowd, Bernadette Walsh and Doug Cronk seek the two council seats vacated by Mayor David Pfund and Councilman Patrick Mancuso. Over the past several months the four have appeared throughout the village to make their presences felt. Cronk and Dowd have handed out flyers at the train station, and Walsh said her husband's ridden around town on his scooter boosting Bernie. Lawn signs for all candidates pervade the village.

Amid campaigning, Walsh and Riche responded to comments online early this week. Recently, each posted remarks taking issue with e-mails and comments, respectively. Walsh denied implications of financial contributions from a local activist group, while Riche talked about anonymous posters.

Referring to recent campaign disclosure forms, Walsh said she only accepted a $500 donation from her husband and denied assertions that she received money from the Preserve Graydon Coalition.

Co-chair of the Ridgewood Pool Project Jane Morales wrote in an e-mail (later posted to the Ridgewood Blog), "Preserve Graydon Coalition has endorsed 2 candidates, financially supported their campaign... and even offered to drive their supporters to the polls!"

Walsh took issue with the phrase "financially supported their campaign." After consulting with a lawyer, she said Monday that phrase implies "cash." She posted a rebuttal on the blog Sunday.

The Preserve Graydon Coalition endorsed both Riche and Walsh. On top of e-mail and Web support, the group took out an ad in The Ridgewood News supporting the two. However, it did not donate directly to either campaign.

In a phone call Monday night, Morales said she didn't mean to imply that any misdeeds occurred. "I don't think I accused her of accepting an illegal campaign contribution. I didn't even mean to imply it. She and the coalition didn't do anything wrong," she said.

Morales said she and Walsh have e-mailed each other over the past few days in attempts to resolve the dispute. Morales said she wished she outlined her points more specifically as to avoid the stir.

Cronk, the husband of the other RPP co-chair Melinda Cronk, said he didn't think Morales intended harm, but empathized with Walsh's position.

"I can understand why'd she get upset. If she thought they were saying Bernie was not running an honorable campaign, which she is running an honorable campaign, than I understand it," he said.

He called the hubbub a "tempest in teapot" and a nonissue.

"Everyone knows Preserve Graydon supports her and Tom, and they don't support me and Brian. It's one issue, and I hope people can judge everything at the end of the day," he said.

Walsh said she wasn't accusing her fellow candidates of anything wrong, either. "I feel like I've carried myself with dignity throughout the whole thing. We've all run honest campaigns."

In addition, Riche responded to nameless claims. In a statement released Monday, Riche denied commenting anonymously on the Web site.

"I thought it important to put a few things into perspective before Tuesday. First, I have and never will post on any blog without signing my name. Therefore for those who believe that some posts came from me or through me by someone else I can assure you that is incorrect.

"Additionally, I will never respond to an anonymous post. If anyone wishes to communicate directly with me they may do so at tomr611@yahoo.com. I will respond to you directly and if you send me your telephone number I will call you. For those of you who have made up their minds on this election, I thank you for your participation in our great system. I would only hope that you made your decision by being properly informed."

If elected, Riche said he'd work hard to ensure better communication between the public and council.

For their purposes, Cronk and his bracketed running mate Dowd opted against reading local blogs.

"Our phone number and e-mail are on every e-mail and sign we put out. I'm more than willing to talk to anyone about our campaign," Cronk said, adding their effort had focused on "old-fashioned campaigning" like handing out flyers a the train station last week or holding informal coffee sessions.

Dowd and Cronk have secured the endorsements of three area officeholders: Woodbridge Councilman Greg Bedard, Clinton Mayor Christine Schaumburg and Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith.

During the campaign, Dowd said support has been great. Although sometimes issues are contentious, he said he admired how educated groups were.

"The passion that people have is impressive. At the end of the day, keeping Ridgewood special is what's important to everyone," he said.

Polls are open from 6 a.m to 8 p.m. village-wide Tuesday.

Check back with Ridgewood Patch for updates throughout the day.

Follow the candidates' names to find their letters to the editor—Cronk, Dowd, Riche, Walsh.