Monday, March 29, 2010
By MATTHEW VAN DUSEN The Record STAFF WRITER
RIDGEFIELD — A special election to recall Mayor Anthony Suarez could take place as early as June after local Republicans filed a petition with the borough clerk on Monday.
But Suarez, a Democrat, said that some residents have complained they were duped by the petitioners and he awaits “the opportunity to examine the signatures and the circumstances under which people were [led] into signing the petition.”
The filing, by Ridgefield Republican Organization Chairman Robert Avery, comes after a 160-day drive to get signatures from 25 percent, or approximately 1,450, of the borough’s registered voters. The petitioners, including several Republican councilmen, gathered about 1,850 signatures.
Avery said he is confident the recall of the Democratic mayor, who is facing federal corruption charges and has refused to resign, will be successful if it goes on the ballot. “I believe they’ll vote in overwhelming numbers to remove Suarez from office,” he said.
Several events have to happen before the recall election goes ahead, according to state law.
The borough clerk has 10 business days from Monday to verify the signatures on the petition. Then, Suarez has 10 business days to challenge the determination, first with the clerk, then in state Superior Court.
If Suarez does not challenge the ruling, or if his challenge is denied, he will have five business days to choose to resign. The clerk will then set the recall election for a date approximately two months later.
The whole process will take at least 90 days, which would result in the special election’s being held in late June.
Suarez did not say if he would challenge the measure, but he questioned the timeliness of the petition and what the petitioners told residents.
“Numerous residents have complained that they were informed that it was a petition either in support of me or to lower taxes, not that it was a recall petition,” Suarez said, reading from a prepared statement.
He declined to elaborate on the claims in the statement.
Avery, who lost the 2007 mayoral election to Suarez, called the claim that petitioners misled residents “sheer baloney” and added that many residents signed eagerly. “Some people physically chased us down the street demanding to sign [the petition],” Avery said.
He said the borough’s acting clerk set Monday as the final day to file the recall petition.
Council President Nicholas Lonzisero said the effort is an “unfortunate but necessary step” to restore order to the borough.
Republicans hold a 4-2 council majority and do not need Democratic votes to pass any measures. Lonzisero said, however, that the mayor has tried to obstruct government business by refusing since January to sign checks for certain borough professionals.
The FBI arrested Suarez last July for allegedly agreeing to accept a bribe from an informant posing as a developer. He has maintained his innocence and expects to go to trial this fall.
There currently are several recall efforts in various stages throughout the state, including a special election scheduled for Nov. 10 to recall Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Vincent Barella.
Ridgefield Democratic Chairman Stephen Pellino said that the mayor is not guilty and residents will back him. “Most people here in Ridgefield are fair-minded people,” Pellino said. “They … believe you’re innocent until proven guilty and [Suarez] should stay in office unless and until he’s convicted.”
