Hi James,
I’m reaching out to request a correction to the article you published today concerning Keith Kazmark’s past.
In the piece, you mischaracterize Ron Arnau’s tenure on the town council and as municipal chair of the Woodland Park Democrats. To clarify: Ron’s service did not overlap with Mr. Kazmark’s. Ron was appointed to fill Tracy Kallert’s seat on the council, and any quotes attributed to him in the article were not made in reference to Mr. Kazmark or his tenure in Woodland Park politics.
We respect and support your commitment to producing free and independent local journalism. However, we ask that reporting remain accurate. As it stands, the article misrepresents both Ron’s statements and the political history of Woodland Park. We would greatly appreciate a correction.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
In solidarity,
—
Campaign Manager, Arnau for Assembly
in the below post we believe mischaracterized Ron Arnau’s tenure on the town council and as municipal chair of the Woodland Park Democrats. To clarify: Ron’s service did not overlap with Mr. Kazmark’s. Ron was appointed to fill Tracy Kallert’s seat on the council, and any quotes attributed to him in the article were not made in reference to Mr. Kazmark or his tenure in Woodland Park politics.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
“Given the breadth and depth of these experiences that have occurred over just a short window,” Arnau wrote, “I see no viable path forward to be an effective councilman, [or] Woodland Park Democratic Organization co-chair, and resign from all positions effective immediately.”
Discriminatory Practices and Toxic Culture
Arnau revealed that he had witnessed or experienced discriminatory comments targeting people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and their appearances. He also described failures in communication, leadership, and prioritization, fostering a toxic environment of finger-pointing, unprofessional conduct, and attrition.
Kazmark’s Tenure and Its Impact
Kazmark’s tenure in Woodland Park
(11+ years) included borough municipal clerk, administrator, council and Mayor, essentially overlapping and making him a full-time mayor with control of day-to-day management of all municipal operations.
When one individual holds multiple influential positions, it leads to a concentration of power, which reduces checks and balances. This limits accountability and transparency, as the same person has significant control over both legislative and executive functions. This can explain why Keith Kazmark is having such a hard time with residents that raise questions and demand accountability. Recently, residents exercised their right to checks and balances and questioned Kazmark about his suspicious tax calculations. The matter resulted in a very similar way to that described by Mr. Arnau- Kazmark targeting people, finger-pointing, unprofessional conduct, and attrition.
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The Woodland Park complaints are based on the town’s administration after Kazmark left. How is he responsible for this?
This all happened after Kazmark LEFT Woodland Park, and under a new mayor. Please get your dates AND facts correct. This is the most ridiculous post written thus far.
Read the article (click link in red) and check the facts. Everything checks out to be legit; dates and timelines linked to Kazmark and his tenure.
Then add the fact that Kazmark continues to foster the same behavior, mismanagement and bigotry in Ridgewood…
Unfortunately, people don’t have facts correct before posting. Shouldn’t the blog be about things that are true?
Nice try Keith! You set the discriminatory tone of the administration. 6 months may seem like a long time but its not. Has Trump been able to undo all the damage Biden did in just these precious short 4 months? Get a grip! They’re obviously still digging themselves out of the black hole you dug for them over there. Trauma doesn’t heal over night.
It’s pretty straight forward.
-Kazmark leaves
-replacement enters the place that Kazmark built “team Kazmark.”
-turns out, Casa de Kazmark is a borough consumed by dysfunction, bigotry, and mismanagement.
-replacement blows the whistle and resigns
It’s pretty straight forward.
-Kazmark leaves
-replacement enters the place that Kazmark built “team Kazmark.”
-turns out, Team Kazmark is a borough consumed by dysfunction, bigotry, and mismanagement.
-replacement blows the whistle and resigns
The point is he fostered the discord, and it only became apparent after he left the position. Toxic culture does not form over night. Try to keep up.
My dealings with Kazmark have always been professional and straightforward. He certainly can be direct, but I have found him to be polite.
I like him. Nobody’s perfect but he seems to be up to the job.
Creepy pic…
Very big changes are coming. Hold on .💋
Nice try Kazmark. You are pathetic having your one or two fans posting defense. You are shady. Your connections with Vagianos got you the job here. You think you are Teflon, but the shit is stuck all over you.
Direct you say? He is direct all right. Directly aiming barbs and jabs at citizens.
When he is not calling balls and strikes, he’s apparently aiming barbs and jabs!
Kazmark, you are my boss and believe me, the people in village hall can’t stand your dictatorship
Leadership style? Say what? All he ever does is post on social media, run around getting his chrome dome in one picture after another after another. It seems all he wants to do is get his face all over the Internet. Why don’t you go to your office and do some actual work kazmark
Political hacks don’t know how to work, which is why they are political hacks.
Ridgewood, meet Woodland Park 2.0. If you like bigotry, centralized control, division, and inefficiency, you’re in for a treat with Kazmark.
Similar behavior surfacing in Ridgewood is a clear pattern. Kazmark’s management style and abuse is inherently problematic.
This story is 💯 accurate!
In Woodland Park, during his tenure, Kazmark cultivated what became known as “Team Kazmark”—a group of supporters, allies, or individuals aligned with him either politically, administratively, or personally. This group included his close collaborators, staff, and those who endorsed his leadership style and decisions.
Keith Kazmark prided on the divide and culture he built. You were either with him or against him. Those not on Team Kazmark were made known publicly and targeted.
Check for yourself on social media and online #teamkazmark
I believe it. It’s happening in Ridgewood too.
Kazmark destroyed EP and WP before he left. The employees hated him and he left them in financial shambles. He leaves when he can no longer cover up what he is hiding. They had to change the name from Team Kazmark because no one wanted to be associated with it. He has left every position he has ever held in disgrace . EP, Parsippany , WP and Ridgewood is next. KK is the definition of Toxic
Seems West Paterson is doing just fine after the departure of Kazmark and Arnau. Maybe they were the problem. Seems they both have a past they are trying to outrun.
Wow! The correction makes it even worse for Kazmark. Tracy Kallert was closely aligned with Keith Kazmark’s political network in Woodland Park. She served as Council President during Kazmark’s tenure as mayor and succeeded him as acting mayor upon his resignation in July 2023. Kallert publicly expressed her admiration for Kazmark, describing him as a mentor and friend, and pledged to continue his vision for the borough . She also ran for a full mayoral term in the November 2023 election with Kazmark’s full endorsement. More of Team Kazmark
and the toxic environment fostered by him.
https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/woodland-park-council-president-tracy-kallert-running-for-mayor-in-november/
Yup. Then there’s the part that where Kazmark’s successor made a significant financial contribution to Kazmark’s mayoral campaign fund in July 2023, donating $16,400
https://www.njelecefilesearch.com/SearchContributionInteractive?cid=2051703&utm_source=chatgpt.com
I met with Kamark and could not get a word in edgewise. It was all about his messaging, you are either compliant or you are not. If you try to explain or provide background then he will tell you he wasn’t here when that happened and isnt aware or that he’s only been in his position for x number of days. He does not listen and the only voice he apparently wants to hear is his own. How is that productive? Since I don’t take my orders from him, I now just go about my business and don’t feel he has a grip on reality.
Next, next come on in, the door is open for the next fool to be the village manager. Step right up step right up and join the circus. The village went to shit in the past six years . Who the hell is running the town, we need a new village manager, all the directors and a few others, way too many puppets in town. What a joke what’s going on so embarrassing.
During the election Kazmark pulled his endorsement of Kallert when it became apparent she would not be his puppet. She has publicly stated that advocating for him to become the Mayor and BA was a huge mistake and she regretted it.
Look many of us here in town have held or still hold professional positions in a corporate setting. It’s called tone from the top. A bad boss only condones bad behavior that then trickles down. Thus a rude or aggressive manager shows his or her staff that it is okay to treat people a certain way or do things that might raise eyebrows. Same thing happens in a political tenure, thus you’re stuck with ineffective people who do questionable things. I don’t think Kazmark right for Ridgewood but then again, if they wiped the slate clean on the mayor and council, most of whom also parade around like they own the joint, I wouldn’t be upset.
How is your Monday going so far Keith?
What would a psychologist say about a guy that takes selfies…?
Passaic Cty folks are very different…trust me.
Keith. Do you see the writing on the wall? The people of Ridgewood, employees and citizens alike, want you GONE.
Boy or boy is this guy becoming real popular in the wrong way
Ware do they find these strange creatures that work in the great village.the land of the miss fits. Oh he’s my friend, we know him from my church, he’s from my town. This is going to stop.
The wind mill crew.
🫵🏼👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍thumbs up . We will find out what is going on with the paid stipends and perks. Oh yeah.