Concerned Residents of Ridgewood Endorse Krauss for School Board Seat

Christina Krauss picked up an endorsement that has held considerable weight in village elections over the past few years, one that could propel her to victory on April 27 if history is on her side.

Grassroots group Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, which has fought Valley Hospital's proposed "Renewal" expansion, formally endorsed Krauss at the conclusion of Thursday night's Candidates Night for school board candidates.

“Christina Krauss has led her candidacy with a focus on increasing the openness and transparency of the Board of Education, as well as greater fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers. She has also demonstrated her commitment to a safe and healthy learning environment for Ridgewood’s students,” Pete McKenna, president of the CRR said in a statement.

 A subcommittee of the group interviewed all of the candidates over the past month, asking the candidates to discuss their positions "relevant" to CRR's membership, CRR leaders said.

“Our organization sees the protection of our children and their educational environment as the most important criteria for a BOE member," McKenna said, adding that fiscal responsibility and initiative to address taxpayer concerns were of crucial consideration for its members.

Krauss, who is running for , has been active in volunteering at a number of the schools. "Christina also knows the impacts that the existing and prposed Valley Hospital would have on Ridgewood students," McKenna said, adding she has the vision to examine the district's fiscal situation and is not predisposed to maintain the status quo.

Krauss has long been known for her views opposing the hospital's proposed doubling in size, writing in a letter to the editor to The Ridgewood News in summer of 2010. "Their position as it pertains to our children’s health and safety is nebulous at best," she wrote of the district administration and school board's decision to not post notices of the Valley hearings on the affected school websites while simultaneously asking parents not to 'idle' their cars.

 The Concerned Residents of Ridgewood have not had one of their endorsed candidates go down in an election–council members Stephen Wellinghorst, Bernadette Walsh and Deputy Mayor Tom Riche all sit behind the dais.

“Christina made our choice an easy one. We hope residents will get to know her positions and will come out and support her on April 27, 2011,” McKenna said.