Elections

Former Mayor 'Definitely Leaning Towards' Running This November

If John DaPuzzo runs for mayor, residents can expect a rematch between two of last year's candidates

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John DaPuzzo

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Former Mahwah Mayor John DaPuzzo, who served in the role from March to November of last year, said he is “definitely leaning towards” making another run for the job this November.

DaPuzzo said he has picked up petitions to run from the town clerk’s office, and “already [has] about 100 signed.” When asked why he is contemplating jumping back into Mahwah’s political landscape, DaPuzzo said, “I really enjoy serving the township of Mahwah.”

According to township clerk Katherine Coletta, DaPuzzo and current Mayor Bill Laforet are the only two residents who have picked up petitions to run for mayor. The petitions first became available last Friday, and do not need to be handed in officially until September. Neither has handed in their petitions, Coletta said Tuesday afternoon.

If both DaPuzzo and Laforet run, November’s election would be a rematch between last year’s top two vote getters. Last November’s election determined who would finish out the final year of the term late Mayor Dick Martel, who died last March, was originally elected to serve in 2008. Laforet beat DaPuzzo by 533 votes. A third candidate, Councilwoman Lisa DiGiulio, was 658 votes short of the win.

Previously the Town Council President, DaPuzzo was appointed mayor last March when Martel died.

Related Topics: Mahwah Elections, Mahwah Mayor, and elections 2012

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melissa lewis

8:30 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Seriously ??? During one of the biggest crisis Mahwah ever had after Irene and he did nothing to help any of the residents at all. Why would we elect someone so selfish, who by the way stormed out of office after his last defeat like a spoiled brat

ref

9:45 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

He wasn't my favorite however I think you have some misinformation,if you are speaking about the flooding problem John was there everyday doing what ever he could to help those people on brook street, catherine ave,getting dumpster after dumpster to help out those people,don't know who is feeding the information but its incorrect. Laforet was handing out cold pizza

Hank

9:45 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

I don't understand, what exactly was he supposed to do?

Lynne McLewin

12:17 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

During the last campaign I was offended by Mr. DaPuzzo's inaccurate "facts" and his bullying tactics.

Hank

7:46 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Melissa and Lynne.If you are going to bash the guy please be specific. Just sayin....
so far a lot of mumbo jumbo

Lynne McLewin

3:56 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Mr. DaPuzzo made a big show of having no say in the mall ordinances vote since he was not on the Town Council after becoming interim mayor. What he Never Acknowledged is that he had the power of his mayoral Veto. He could have vetoed the ordinances and given the townspeople time to consider the issue in greater depth. The ordinances may still have been passed later, but it could have been after thoughtful consideration and discussion rather than with the arrogant show of power that we experienced. Mr. DaPuzzo did not choose to be a mediating influence. He chose to side with the Town Council display of arrogant power. I was offended by his choice to ignore the voices of over 400 people who all were against the ordinances and who wanted to be part of the conversation on the issue but were ignored by most of the Town Council.

Angelo Zappala

7:46 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I think his legacy to be this Crossroads imbroglio.

mtaylor

11:31 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

Hank, Be specific in your request for us to be specific. Just saying...

LKR

7:50 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

All Laforet has done is glide on the work and planning that was already in place.

melissa lewis

8:07 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Ref, hank and Lynne I was on those streets cleaning up and looking at the faces of people who needed help. He was no where to be found, Mahwah bar and grill supplied food, elves helped the victims and dapuzzo was absent. What was he supposed to do? Seriously ? He was supposed to get down there and help the people in his town! Suzy Godding did more for this town then he ever did, my vote is with her.

Hank

8:20 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

but ref already said that he saw him there every day at the flood zone
are you saying that none of the Mahwah Elves saw him there either? Why wasn't this brought up at election time? If what you claim is true and can be proven then that would influence my voting as well as others. If not,shame on you.

LKR

8:57 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I saw him there as well. He worked hard to get dumpster after dumpster. There was lots to be done behind the scenes. Remember there was destruction all over town. He did not use it as a PR opportunity. He was taking care of ALL the responsibilities to all citizens of Mahwah.

Andy Schmidt

10:57 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

John DaPuzzo has always been dedicated to Mahwah and worked hard for what he honestly felt would benefit of the township. Rather than making another bid for mayor, though, I actually was hoping to see his name on the ballot for Township Council, or even as an appointee to some other board - because regardless of any disagreement on individual issues, his experience and persistence is an asset to the township.

Hopefully he keeps an open mind about which position CURRENTLY would be BEST suited to allow him to contribute his skills to township affairs.

Regenbogen

10:57 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Mr. DaPuzzo was certainly helping the flood victims. Go back to Patch articles from August and September, 2011.

Mahwah Resident

5:51 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Antrim, Can you prove it? All i know he was riding on the fire truck. What exactly did he do? Can you give us the web address for the patch articles? I looked but did not see anything.

Mahwah Resident

11:36 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Also, getting dumpsters. Wow!!! Big Deal.

Hank

9:24 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mahwah Resident,not only did he order dumpsters, he picked them up with his bare hands and dragged them to their location.

Kevin

11:34 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I am not a fan of Mr. DaPuzzo however he was on my street during the flood riding with the fire department. We had several residents helping each other at that time so we only needed two or three from the department to assist. How much he got involved I do not know but be fair he was there. We all can assume what his reasons were for being there. I would hope it was to document first hand what our reality is in regards to flooding to better help in his fight for township wide relief. Whoever the mayor is I believe they could do more from their office to assist in this ongoing flooding issue. Making phone calls and get physical results for relief will only help.

donna ciongoli

12:22 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

did not see either one on Glen Gray rd...EVER. Not to assist, not to "check in"...nothing....ever

Mahwah Resident

5:51 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Andy I disagree with you 100%. I will NOT be voting for DaPuzzo for a council seat or mayor or for anything else in that matter. He turned his back on 400 PLUS people (yes, i was there) and shoved a mall down our throats. Mahwah will never forget!!!!

lovingl2012

9:24 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012

I think DaPuzzo did a great job!

lovingl2012

9:24 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012

Laforet is putting the recycling department out to bid . One week he is there side by side taking pictures with them and the next week he is firing them. If you thought it took along time for the DPW to get to your streets in last years storms, it's about to get much worse . This is all about what he can say he did for Mahwah, (He saved so much money) meanwhile he doesn't say that he will also have to put plowing out to bid because there aren't enough guys to get to our roads . He also just gave police back their overtime . I like our police just fine but I wasn't aware we lived in the hood. How do you justify that ? Did the council know the recycling department was going out to bid? I don't think so . Why does one person who is only finishing someones term have the right to change so many things ? What about the little people who are losing their jobs ? He doesn't care because at the end of the day he still has his life the same way . He can pay his mortgage.
Needless to say he won't get my vote .

Andy Schmidt

2:40 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012

I personally am willing to pay for superior services and facilities...

But, until you get OTHER people to take some of the money they spent at McDonalds or Starbucks each month without giving it a second thought, or on the latest iTunes downloads, or on the most current cell phone model, or on the movies - and for those people to NOT whine when the town needs a fraction of that clearly disposable money from them to fund extra township expenses that year, then whoever the mayor is will need to constantly "shop around" to get the "most bang for the buck". You can't keep taxes the same, while things get more expensive all around you and expect the town to maintain itself at a status-quo. People have pipe dreams.

As far as having the right to "change so many things" - that right was assigned by the clear majority of the voters who WANTED someone to do JUST that - because otherwise they would have stuck with one of the "established" candidates who wanted to keep things the same (draining our surplus, thus risking our credit rating, to artificially keep taxes low, just to fund spending habits).

As far as taking actions while "just finishing someone's term" - what else is an elected official to do? NOT take action and then be blamed by you for having done NOTHING than JUST finish someone's term?