Ridgewood Council rejects idea to move municipal election to November
Tuesday November 12, 2013, 10:18 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Fretted by the thought of getting lost in the middle of a presidential or other large vote, council members passed on the idea of moving Ridgewood’s municipal election from May to November.
The notion was brought to Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh’s attention by two members of the Ridgewood Board of Education, which is currently exploring a move from April to November elections. The councilwoman opened the conversation last week and presented her colleagues with a sample ballot from Mahwah Township, which recently switched from spring to autumn elections.
Some council members expressed concern that many residents might confuse ballot positioning with political party affiliation – Ridgewood’s governing body is comprised of non-partisan members. Pucciarelli also suggested that despite consistent low voter turnout, residents who go to the polls in May are focused solely on the local election.
It’s a waste of money to hold separate elections. As for voters getting confused, I’d trust a voter more than some of the jokers who are there because of low voter turnout.
#1 – Absolutely right. Waste of money and Mrs. Hauck is in office by a margin of 10 votes. We need to get more residents involved in our Council elections because this Council is a laughingstock. #Free Party Tickets, #Secret Meetings with Developers, #Former Valley VP
They did not want to move the election to November because no one on the current Council wanted to be accused of voting for a plan that would have extended their terms in office by another 6 months. No balls.
Then why not shorten their terms by 6 months? Win/win.
#3, More likely is that the ‘three-some’ doesn’t want the other 2 sitting council members on the council for any longer than the May election. That way they can approve all the hyper-development in Ridgewood with less resistance.
#3, it’s more likely that the ‘three-some’ doesn’t want the other two council members on the council any longer than May. That way they will have an easier time approving the over-development of Ridgewood.
#3, it’s more likely that the ‘three-some’ sitting on the council doesn’t want the other two council members to stay on the council any longer than May. That way they can approve the overdevelopment of Ridgewood more easily.
They think that the voters are incapable of voting with their heads and we might be confused by the ballot? I vote issues not partied and I find their decision to be fiscally irresponsible and condescending.
You voted for those bozos, not me!