Ridgewood Village Council Candidate Profile: Evan Weitz

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Candidates are set for the Ridgewood Village Council race on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In anticipation, Patch sent questionnaires to each of the four candidates vying for the two open seats on the Village Council, asking them to share facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent the village.

Evan Weitz is running for a four-year term against two other newcomers and incumbent Mayor Susan Knudsen. Former Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon resigned from council in September and is not seeking re-election.

Here are Weitz's responses:

Name:

Evan Weitz

Age:

46

Town of residence:

Ridgewood

Position sought:

Village Council

Party affiliation:

Non-Partisan

Family:

Jen Blanck (wife), Daughter Molly (13 years old), and son Colin (10 years old)

Education:

J.D. Emory Law School, BA Rutgers University (Double Major in Music and History)

Occupation:

Former Federal and State Prosecutor – Currently a Financial Crimes Executive for a large US Bank

Why are you running for this office?

When I finished law school, I turned down offers to work for big law firms to start my career advocating for victims of crimes, ultimately spending close to 15 years in public service. I have a deep commitment to public service and want to continue that commitment by serving the Village that my family and I call home. Ridgewood is a special place, but I think we can be better. Amongst my priorities I want to restore the downtown and the pedestrian plaza, protect against over-development, be better stewards of our tax dollars and protect our fields and greenspaces.

What do you feel is the most important issue facing constituents, and what do you intend to do to repair or resolve it?

When my family and I moved to Ridgewood we did so because we fell in love with the vibrant downtown and sense of community. It is critically important to retain that vibrance that we bring back the pedestrian plaza and clean up our downtown. It is also equally important that we protect that same character that my family and I fell in love with by preventing over development of our community. Any proposed development in Ridgewood must be carefully measured against the community’s needs and preserving why so many of us moved here in the first place

What differentiates you from other candidates?

I spent four years as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office handling domestic violence cases and other violent crimes and then joined the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant United States Attorney. As a Federal Prosecutor, I specialized in money laundering and white-collar crimes, gaining an expertise in banking and finance. I also led some of the biggest cases brought by the Department of Justice in the NYC area during my time as a Federal Prosecutor. I then entered the private sector where I rose to be a Managing Director of one of the largest banks in the world. I bring the unique experience of being able to deliver results within both government and the private sector. I will bring that same level of experience and result orientated focus to the Council.

What other issues or ideas do you feel deserve attention?

I think its critically important to be fiscally responsible with our tax dollars. New Jersey in general, and Bergen County in particular, have become unaffordable for too many of our citizens and it’s incumbent upon our public servants to find ways to be responsible with our tax dollars. We need to look harder for ways to save money by exploring opportunities for savings without compromising the services that the Village provides its residents.

We also need to be more inclusive. I would prioritize finding and protecting more field space for children, providing hybrid access to Village Council Meetings so everyone can participate in democracy and making sure that activities such as pickleball are protected. As the father of two children in our school systems I see the urgent need to protect our fields and open spaces for our kids. I also feel strongly that we should have hybrid access to our Council meetings which would allow citizens to participate via zoom making it easier for people with disabilities, Senior Citizens and parents of young children to participate in our government and have their voices heard. This has become the new normal in most businesses as well as our own Board of Education which utilizes hybrid access for their meetings. There is no reason the Council should not do the same.

We also need to expect better services from our Village. The roads need to be paved and we need to ensure that we have clean drinking water. I will hold the Village accountable for providing those services.

Finally, the renovations at Schedler, which includes an additional field, should have been completed long ago instead of delays caused by the mishandling of the work. Ridgewood residents deserve to have their tax dollars better spent.

What accomplishments in your past demonstrates that you are the best candidate for this job?

While I am proud of my professional life, I am first and foremost a father and husband. If elected I would be the only member of the Council with kids in the Ridgewood Schools and the only one who commutes into Manhattan on a regular basis. I think it is critically important that we have someone with those experiences sitting on the Council. It gives me a greater perspective on what many families in Ridgewood contend with on a daily basis and why it’s important to deliver the very best in resources and services for our community.

Do you want to tell voters anything else about you or your positions?

I care deeply about Ridgewood and want to ensure that the next generation of residents inherent a Village just as beautiful as the one we all inherited when we chose to call Ridgewood home.