the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Blog officially endorses current Board of Education (BOE) Vice President HyunJu Kwak for reelection. She is head and shoulders above the other four candidates on the ballot.
She is very intelligent and her education credentials are impressive – Brown, Oxford, Wharton.
Her numerous accomplishments during her time serving as BOE Vice President are amazing – she chaired the Teachers Union contract negotiating team, arriving at a fair settlement before the deadline for the first time in 18 years. She reduced spending without any impact on academic programs. She takes the job so seriously that she took more training courses than required in order to educate herself about her role as a BOE trustee. Â
Ms. Kwak is thoroughly prepared for every BOE meeting – reading through sometimes hundreds of pages of documents, and coming to the meetings with thoughtful questions and concerns. When asking these questions she is unfailingly polite, but is also persistent if there is pushback. Â
Because her own children are not in the Ridgewood Public Schools, she can be laser-focused on what is best for all Ridgewood students, without worrying about what will precisely affect her own children or their classmates.  The Ridgewood Blog views this as an enormous asset, as we have seen one particular parent on the Board who panders to the parents of his children’s classmates and teammates. Â
While there are three seats open, Ms. Kwak is the only one we unequivocally endorse. Therefore our recommendation is to “bullet-vote” for her, and let the other two seats fill as they may. It is not necessary to vote for three, and voting for a so-so choice might possibly put that person on top. Above all, do not vote for Mr. Kaufman, who has proven to be an absolute train wreck. Â
Again, The Ridgewood Blog recommends a “bullet vote” for Hyun Ju Kwak!
And what about the other 2 slots…?
Agreed. There is no other candidate that deserves a vote.
She has no kids in the system so can be laser-focused on the system.
He has no kids in the system so should not be considered for the job.
I swear, if the Ridgewood Blog didn’t have double standards, it’d have none.
like Brogan ???
Thank you 🙏
Kaufman has a one child in RPS another out of district. I think he has a better perspective that way.
Brogan’s three kids went through the system. Her vast knowledge trumps everyone.
I struggle to vote for the wife of a man who is so divisive in our Village.
I agree with the endorsement. I would also suggest that Susan Madison should also get a vote.
Brogan and Kaufman need to go above all.
Brogan has more experience than all the other member combined.
Kaufman has a child in RPS. He chose to send his son to Bergen Catholic for the wrestling program after he tried to have Ridgewood’s wrestling coach fired and replaced by his own goons.
Here fixed that fer ya:
Brogan
has more experienceis more destructive than all the other members combined.Ms. Kwak is a breath of fresh, honest air. I support her completely and I will be voting for only her. And boy oh boy I hope Kaufmann does not get re-elected.
If you don’t want Kaufman elected, you better use your other two votes. Vote Madison.
Guess we r stuck with one of Kaufman or Brogran.
Brogan oversaw many decline of the RPS system. She sat silently while the former superintendent lied to residents. Ranking fell consistently. Crazy stuff happens under her watch. Voting for her is voting for past failures.
Voting for Kaufman is voting for a man who caters only to his kids and his friends. Plus he has no clue what he’s doing. What he says is often inconsistent and self-contradictory. It’s comical and entertaining but we can’t risk a seat to a carrier if utter ineptitude.
Kaufman’s buddy never showed up, and did nothing, so why bother? He’s a glorified accountant exec. Anyways he for his holiday, so what does he want now?
Madison – She’s an almost candidate… seems promising, then she says random things that make you think twice.
Vote Kwak and let’s get rid of that stupid turf. She’ll make it happen! No more costly remediation after our too often floods.