Monday, May 14, 2012
Cast your vote for the five choices.
At its reorganization meeting on July 1, the five council members – Albert Pucciarelli, Paul Aronsohn, Gwenn Hauck, Bernadette Walsh and Tom Riche – will select one of its members as the mayor of Ridgewood for the next two years. Here's the simple low-down: after the new members are sworn in, nominations for mayor are submitted. The individual with most total votes among the five is then appointed and sworn in as mayor. The popular vote during elections makes no difference here – just ask Councilwoman Walsh, who took home the most votes in 2010. Sources have said Aronsohn has support of running mates Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli, and would have enough votes to take over the largely figurehead role. Separate sources have said both …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
With only nine provisional ballots needing to be counted, it seems extremely likely Hauck bested Ridgewood Mayor Keith Killion.
Though the results remain unofficial, it seems a virtual lock Gwenn Hauck has claimed a chair on the Ridgewood Village Council. Village Clerk Heather Mailander said Wednesday that the provisional ballots still needing to be counted tallied nine. Hauck, according to unofficial results, captured 1727 votes, leading current mayor Keith Killion, who had 1711. Absentee ballots, though counted, still must be verified by the county board of elections, Mailander said. The results are likely to be official by next Wednesday, she told Patch. Unless a significant number of ballots are disqualified, Hauck has claimed the third of three seats and will be sworn in on July 1, 2012. Councilman Paul Aronsohn and Albert Pucciarelli were the top vote-getters…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Unofficially victorious Aronsohn-led slate promises change to village government. Provisional ballots have not yet been counted and there remains a chance Killion overtakes Hauck.
Updated last at 10:59 p.m. Tuesday When the dust settled, voters said it's time for new leadership in Ridgewood. In the closest election in years, voters opted for Councilman Paul Aronsohn, Planning Board Vice Chairman Albert Pucciarelli and thus far, by the slimmest of margins, Gwenn Hauck. The three leading vote-getters will take office at the reorganization meeting in July and will serve four year terms. Technically, the vote isn't over yet. With 1727 votes, Hauck amassed only 16 more votes than the fourth-leading vote-getter, incumbent Mayor Keith Killion. Village Clerk Heather Mailander said provisional ballots still need to be counted by the county board of elections. It could take up to five or six days before the race is official, …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Will you vote in Tuesday's election, which features six candidates vying for three seats on the Ridgewood council?
The roller coaster ride that's been the council election race ends Tuesday with six candidates appealing to the voting public for three seats on the dais of the Sydney Stoldt Court Room. Councilman Paul Aronoshn at the candidates night debate dropped the biggest bombshell, asking voters to pull the lever for himself, Albert Pucciarelli and Gwenn Hauck. The move to endorse two candidates that have expressed support for the Valley Hospital 'Renewal' expansion ruffled the feathers of anti-hospital expansion group Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR), who ultimately decided to continue supporting Aronsohn along with Mayor Keith Killion and Jane Shinozuka. Mayor Keith Killion and Jane Shinozuka, meanwhile, have also been endorsed by the …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Says he still has to overcome "misconception" on Valley Hospital, possible recusal.
Leaning on decades of experience poring through budgets, council candidate Russell Forenza says he can be the finance watchdog residents need in government. A 51-year resident of Ridgewood, the Paterson budget officer says his approach is simple – if there's a problem that needs fixing, he wants to be out in the forefront hammering out issues with all stakeholders. You may remember the gruff, outspoken candidate from 2010 when he ran for the seat held by Councilman Steve Wellinghorst. "I've worked in finance and budgets for 40 years," he said. "I'm very capable, I understand government, I understand how it works. I certainly can be a definite asset. If people got over and realized the Valley situation is not a factor for me – I'm working …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Group says Aronsohn never told them he'd publicly endorse Hauck and Pucciarelli, the candidate says he absolutely did.
Still peeved over Councilman Paul Aronsohn's dramatic endorsement of two candidates that make them nervous, grassroots anti-hospital expansion group Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) ultimately decided on Wednesday to continue its support of the candidate. Aronsohn at Monday's televised debate asked voters to support himself and two particular candidates – Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli. The three were "like-minded" on a majority of issues and as a trio could help change the tone of Village Hall, the apparent new unofficial slate said. But Hauck and Pucciarelli, CRR says, have supported previous hospital expansion efforts. That marks a sharp contrast to its endorsed candidates of Jane Shinozuka and Mayor Keith Killion, who have …
Who do you think fared best during Monday night's League of Women Voters Candidate's Debate?
Though alliances and endorsements have dominated the focus of elections following the candidate's debate on Monday, candidates have also fielded questions about the conflicting ‘H-Zone’ ordinance and planning board amendment; consolidation of local government before Christie comes to town; the state of village trees; Gabbert’s raise; downtown housing developments; infrastructure; and a vision for the future. Voters will cast ballots for three candidates on Tuesday, May 8. Russell Forenza, Jane Shinozuka, Gwenn Hauck, Keith Killion, Albert Pucciarelli and Paul Aronsohn are all running for four-year seats. Here's what the candidates said on the issues on Monday night: Conflict with ‘H-Zone’ ordinance and planning board amendment Although …
Late endorsement by Aronsohn for fellow council candidates throws wrench into election. Who will you vote for?
The Ridgewood Village Council Candidate’s Debate closed with a split from six separate candidates vying for three seats to a “like-minded” trio in one corner, a battling mayor and planning board upstart in the other, and a fiery budget officer seemingly on the outside looking in. The debate, hosted by the League of Women Voters on Monday night, ended with a last minute call from Councilman Paul Aronsohn to endorse candidates Albert Pucciarelli and Gwenn Hauck. Insiders say Aronsohn’s been cozying up with Hauck, a stay-at-home mom and consummate volunteer, and Pucciarelli, a pilot and lawyer, and the move didn’t exactly come out of left field. At the end of the day, it’s about simple math. To effect the change he says the village needs, …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Group criticizes Aronsohn, mum on Forenza and Hauck.
Following the candidate's debate that saw a controversial endorsement, the Preserve Graydon Coalition (PGC) on Tuesday publicly expressed support for three council candidates. In a message sent to supporters, co-chairs Alan Seiden and Marcia Ringel urged members to vote for planning board vice chairman Albert Pucciarelli, Mayor Keith Killion and candidate Jane Shinozuka. "All three are Planning Board members who support Graydon’s inclusion on the Village’s historic site list," the organization said in its statement. "We believe they will enact effective, prudent policies to keep Graydon natural and make it increasingly successful." Beyond expressing support for the candidates they feel best represent their interests, the organization's …
Head of anti-expansion group Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) says the incumbent councilman's endorsements are just politics; Aronsohn says endorsees would help change village government for the better.
Citing a need for new voices on the dais, incumbent Councilman Paul Aronsohn endorsed council hopefuls Albert Pucciarelli and Gwenn Hauck at the candidate's debate but has apparently lost favor with hospital expansion foes Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) in the process. "It's a very significant concern," CRR Chairman Pete McKenna told Patch shortly after Monday night's debate. The organization – which has fought Valley Hospital's $750 million 'Renewal' expansion proposal – endorsed Aronsohn, Mayor Keith Killion and candidate Jane Shinozuka roughly a week ago. All three have either opposed the 'Renewal' proposal voted down by the council in November, or publicly taken a stance against it. While the organization has not yet officially…
Jesus Vasquez
10:12 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
How about me? "Jesus for Mayor" has a nice ring to it! more ›