Political Update
For several years there has been an ongoing tug of war in Englewood between advocates of responsible local government and their opponents allied with Bergen County political boss Joseph Ferriero. This contest has now acquired a new dimension since recently reelected Mayor Michael Wildes, who had been unaligned, has now joined the Ferriero team, and Ferriero, having strengthened his hold in the County, appears more determined than ever to crush his remaining opposition.
Until a year ago, the Ferriero faction, including Jack Drakeford, Vern Walton and Doug Bern, formed a controlling majority of the Englewood City Council. With the replacement of Bern by Ken Resenzweig in January, 2006, the control changed. And following the replacement of Walton by Gordon Johnson in January, 2007, Jack Drakeford remains the sole Ferriero ally on the Council. Under Englewood's City Charter, the Mayor has no vote on the Council, and his veto can be overridden by four votes.
This power shift has been accomplished in successive June Democratic Primaries. Since there is no effective Republican Party in Englewood, the November General Election is normally irrelevant locally (the recent Independent challenge to Mayor Wildes being an exception). The June Primary Election each year, generally ignored by most of the voting public, has thus become the main political battleground. And it is reasonable to expect that June of this year will see one, or perhaps two, more hotly contested primary contests here, as the Second Ward seat, held by Charlotte Schoen, and the Fourth Ward seat, held by Jack Drakeford, will be on the ballot.
Englewood is part of the 37th New Jersey Legislative District, including twelve largely Democratic towns, and we will also be voting in June for a State Senator and two State Assembly members to represent us in Trenton. Senator Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck, and Assembly members Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson of Englewood, expect to face opposition from Ferriero-backed candidates, including Wildes.
Another aspect of this power contest has been the saga of Violet Cherry, who until recently had been Director of the Englewood Department of Health, and at the same time Chair of the Englewood Democratic Municipal Committee. As Committee Chair, she and her Committee warred continually with Ferriero, and in revenge Ferriero's Council allies appointed persons to the board of Health committed to disciplining her. At this point, they have succeeded, after considerable turmoil and unconscionable legal expense; she is no longer Municipal Chair and she has retired from the Health Department.
Why does all this matter? Because we need to know that decisions taken by our City leaders are based on the best interest of our citizens and not to please the fat cats who contribute to the County machine. The taxpayers of Englewood neeed to know thier dollars are not wasted on closed door deals and political vendettas. We need to restore and protect honest, competent and fair government in our City, and protect the seats of our unbought State representatives. We need to focus the attention of our voters on this crucial Primary. We need to make sure Charlotte Schoen, Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Huttle all win in June.
These articles (most of which have been widely discussed on bluejersey already, but that I will post anyway for my report) were distributed to all those attending.
From The Star Ledger.
