Four Candidates Look to Fill Vacant Village Council Seat

Four candidates will officially battle it out to fill the vacant village council seat through 2012 when the special election is held on November 2. The seat has been vacant since June after the passing of councilwoman Anne Zusy, and the victor of the special election will finish the remainder of her term, set to expire in 2012.

Stephen Wellinghorst, Lou Lembo, Russell Forenza, and Oliver Train met the Thursday afternoon deadline.

In a letter to the editor to The Ridgewood News, Lembo described himself as a resident of the village for over 60 years, and whose family members have served the village for over 90 years. He said he felt the time had come to do his part to "preserve our village."

Forenza publicly noted his support of the Valley Renewal Project, signing the open letter sent out to residents in the village.

Wellinghorst, an attorney, has previously been a member of the Board of Adjustment, and has worked as the attorney for the West Paterson Planning Board. He's a self-described "fiscal conservative" and has also been a judge, a prosecutor and a legal commentator and TV host for MSNBC, Fox, CNN and others. He was the first candidate to declare for the position back in June.

In a previous interview with Patch, Wellinghorst said he would "carefully review" the testimony that has divided the town on the Valley issue, and said that Graydon Pool and the financial state of the downtown are the other two big issues.

Train similarly has begun, stating on the Ridgewood Blog forum that unlike Wellinghorst, he lives and works in Ridgewood. He also said he's not a one-issue candidate, remarking that he'll be "very active and vocal in making this town a better place with affordable taxes."

Patch will be covering this big election, so make sure to check back in the upcoming days as we interview a few candidates.