Ridgefield mayor to be target of recall petition

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Record

www.northjersey.com

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RIDGEFIELD ? The head of the Republican Party in Ridgefield says he plans to file a petition to recall embattled Mayor Anthony Suarez.

Robert Avery said Wednesday he expects to file papers by next week. Signatures would then be collected from registered voters.

Suarez, a Democrat, was one of more than 40 people arrested last month in a federal investigation into corruption and money laundering. He's charged with accepting an illegal $10,000 payment from a government informant posing as a developer.

Suarez has rejected calls to resign, including from Gov. Jon. Corzine. On Monday Corzine signed an executive order halting state approvals and permits for development in towns where elected officials have been arrested or indicted but remain in office.

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wtf, self admission by the mayor office they have no control over the day to day operations of the town, then who does?! Why the heck are those guys still in office.

NJ is just insane....

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Does this mean JC because of Vega? Are we a "similar municipality?"

Also curious to know what politicians involved, besides vega, has ot been suspended or resigned....

http://www.northjersey.com/news/polit ... _Ridgefield.html?page=all


Corzine considering state takeover of Ridgefield, orders review by state comptroller
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Last updated: Saturday August 1, 2009, 6:23 PM
BY JOHN REITMEYER AND MATTHEW VAN DUSEN
The Record
STAFF WRITERS
Governor Corzine is ordering the state?s comptroller to begin an immediate review of Ridgefield, and also is considering a state takeover of the borough.

The moves come as Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez continues to defy the governor?s call for the resignation of all elected officials who were charged with corruption by federal authorities on July 23.

?I think these are pretty strong measures,? Corzine said Saturday in an interview with The Record.

The governor said he is directing state Comptroller Matthew Boxer to begin an immediate investigation of the borough?s procurement practices and a review of all development contracts and records.

The state will begin exploring a takeover of the borough as well, Corzine said.

Stephen Pellino, the chairman of the Ridgefield Democratic Party and a Suarez supporter, called Corzine?s plans ?an outrage? and ?un-American.?

?Quite frankly, as a Democrat and as a citizen, when I hear that it makes me more defiant because it?s ludicrous,? Pellino said.

Pellino said the governor is obviously ?trying to distance himself from what he thinks is a taint? and said Suarez would resist. He added the mayor has almost no control over day-to-day operations of the town and, as a member of the minority party in the borough, little power to control development.

Suarez did not return a call seeking comment.

The governor said he would also issue an executive order on Monday that will direct all state departments, agencies and authorities to immediately freeze all applications, permits and approvals for development. The order will apply to Ridgefield and other similar municipalities where elected officials are facing an arrest or indictment, he said.

Robert Avery, the chairman of the local Republican Party, said he could accept the governor?s actions if they meant Suarez would step down.

?The borough is well run, but I would advocate almost anything which would remove this man from office,? within reasonable bounds, Avery said.

Avery added that local Republicans are planning a protest outside the mayor?s house in the coming days if he does not step down.

Council President Nicholas Lonzisero, a Republican, said he believes that leaders in both parties are ?appalled? that Suarez has resisted calls to resign.

?I think no elected official is above the people they serve, and it would be in the best interest of Suarez to resign immediately,? he said.

Suarez was arrested on charges of accepting cash bribes from a government informant in exchange for supporting a development project the informant sought in Ridgefield.

He was arrested on July 23 along with 43 others after a widespread federal investigation into corruption and money laundering that also netted Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell and Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano.

Cammarano stepped down Friday and Elwell resigned earlier in the week, making Suarez the only arrested mayor to remain in office. All three mayors have denied any wrongdoing.

The borough Web site indicated Saturday evening that Suarez has scheduled office hours from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday at Borough Hall.

When asked if the new state actions in Ridgefield are designed to ramp up the pressure on Suarez, Corzine said he would let others ?draw any conclusions.?

?It is very difficult for an indvidual to carry out their responsibility as a chief executive of a community? with the distraction of a corruption arrest, said Corzine, who is running for reelection this year.

E-mail: reitmeyer@northjersey.com and vandusen@northjersey.com