Howard Fox Drops Out of GR Council Candidate Forum

There will be no debate between three citizens opting for two seats on the Glen Rock Borough Council Tuesday night, the League of Women Voters and candidates confirmed Monday morning.

Howard Fox, a Democrat, will not be participating in the League of Women Voters Candidate's Night on Tuesday due to what he called "a conflict."

Because Fox is the only Democratic challenger against incumbents Carmine Nogara and Joan Orseck, that section of the public forum has been cancelled, Sonya Loren of the League of Women Voters said Monday morning. 

"In a contested election, three candidates vying for two seats for Borough Council in this election, candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties must participate," Loren said in an e-mail to Patch. "If only the candidates of one party accept the invitation, as has happened, there can be no debate. It is inappropriate for the League of Women Voters to hold the forum as planned."

The Candidate's Night portion for school board candidates will still be held Tuesday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Glen Rock Borough Hall's Council Chambers.

"Unfortunately, I am not able to discuss it publicly at this time," Fox said when asked why he would not be participating. Fox, who previously ran for council in 2011 but was unsuccessful, will not be dropping out of the race, however.

"I intend to win," he told Patch in an e-mail.

"I am very disappointed that the Candidates' Night debate has been cancelled," Nogara, a Republican and the council president, remarked. "I was looking forward to using the forum to express my viewpoints on several important issues that Glen Rock is facing."

Orseck, who previously ran as a Democrat but is now on the GOP ticket, expressed similar sentiments as Nogara. Though disappointed, Orseck said her and Nogara's record on the council and in community service "speaks for itself."

Barbara Steuert and Gene Calderon are hoping to reclaim their school board chairs, while James Chung and Elizabeth Carr are looking to unseat the pair. A total of three seats are up for grabs, each a three-year term.

It's unclear if Sean Massaro, a teen "hero" who is on the ballot, will be participating. Massaro's candidacy has been in doubt after his mother announced he'd be focusing on his college education.

Terry Moore, appointed to the school board in 2011 after the resignation of Anita Kalra, has elected not to run for re-election.

This article was last updated at 5:10 p.m. Monday to include comment from Orseck.

Correction: Fox unsuccessfully ran for council in 2011.

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