i know this will not be on patch long,however why didn't mr. laforet answer the questions that were asked?and yes i wanted to hear about water meters

David, Think you are citing a poll with a sample of one. If you really did attend the event last night you would have seen and heard that with one expcetion, Mr. Laforet did not answer a single question posed directly or explicitly. Wholesale evasion was the strategy for team laforet. For a candidate with new ideas, not one was presented.

Thank you for posting this. It's wonderful for those of us who did not attend or do not know the candidates to get a feel of who they are. I look forward to being able to view the questions and responses.

You both are correct. Lisa is the only candidate for the people, she has integrity, experience in getting things done. She does not lead by planting fear,uncertainty and doubt into our future. She can follow up with her initiatives all the way to Trenton. She is for us now and always has been. We are so fortunate that she has stepped up at this critical time when we need a leader with out a personal agenda. She is not a money machine... one candidate raised $39,000. Her opponents both think they can outspend her and buy the job. Public info campaign is available http://www.elec.state.nj.us/

Here is what I heard and saw. It was a very lively night at the Mahwah Senior Center for the Mahwah Library Board of Trustee's "Meet the Candidate Night". The facility was packed. The format was highly restrictive. The citizens were "hand-cuffed". The citizens were not allowed to participate or ask questions. The format was round robin introductions and responses to pre-submitted and pre-reviewed questions. During the introductions candidate Mayor John Dapuzzo mixed it up and voiced his dissatisfaction with the format and the means by which it was determined, accusing candidate business man Bill Laforet of ham-stringing the event by refusing to attend unless the event was restricted in this fashion. This brought claps, cheers and boos. This was the most exciting part of the evening where the peoples' voices were heard. Other than this moment there was little if any real interaction with the citizens of the town. Although, I will say that the candidates were gracious enough to stay afterwards and talk one-on-one and in small groups with the citizens of the town.

For more information about what we observed last night go to:
http://www.facebook.com/whocares.nj.mahwah

What did you hear? What do you think?

Lisa DiGuilio was the only candidate for mayor that did not cloud the issues. Her experience and tenacity is what the town of Mahwah really needs. The country is in crisis and we need someone who can tackle the issues that effect our township. She was herself and her voice was no different from the voice we hear at the town council meetings. That is the consistency and honesty this town needs. I am glad that so many people showed up for the meeting and kudos to Patch for filming the event and getting out to the public. I think the sign situation is out control and littering up the streets of Mahawah and Ramsey. Take a count of how many signs each candidate has out. Who will have the most?

For anyone who could not attend this event (or candidate events in the past) the Mahwah Tea Party (mahwahteaparty.com) is hosting a candidates night on Tuesday November 1 @ 7pm, Ramapo Reformed Church. I have just confirmed with the group that questions from the floor will be welcomed and that this night will be dedicated to the candidates only. Let's come up with questions that have not been answered yet. This may be your last chance to participate with the candidates in an true open forum prior to the election. I hope you all can make it.

I think Mayor DaPuzzo was rude and self-centered!! It was not a Laforet "bashing" as Mr. DaPuzzo tried to make it. Someone is feeling some opponent pressure!!

When did it become rude to invite public participation or ask for a debate on the issues? On the other hand refusing to participate if debate is allowed or the public included seems to be a little rude for a Mayoral candidate.

It is not rude to invite the public's participation or debate pertinent issues. It was the demeanor in which it was presented that disturbed me.

Ted I wish I knew you were there last night. I would have loved to sit down with you and speak for awhile being we are on different sides of the CrossRoads issue. I felt Jandris and Sbarra both showed very well last night. Whoever looses I encourage to run again because he will knock out one of the current members, which we need. Also the one who does not make it should apply for the open postion that will be created when Lisa DiGiulio wins. Jandris or Sbarra would have my support to fill her position. Lets hope the council feels the same. It is true Laforet did not answer questions completly or at all. He stated he is not a politician but boy did he sound like one last night. DaPuzzo started with a curve ball which I felt was to just stir the pot with no real pro or con to his request. He knows there is another date on Nov 1st were he can debate. A little grandstanding, soap box, ra ra look at me kind of trick. Politics!!!

Why would Bill fear open questions from the floor? No time for another person to tell him how to try to answer the questions?

Part One of Comments ….

Many thanks to Jessica for doing an excellent job in moderating candidate’s night!

The following are intended to be some observations from last night’s “event”…

• Water bill increases – if it is correct that Mahwah did not increase rates for 8 years and then increased 15% each of the past two years (to play catch up), and then we need to move off of this as an issue. An average increase of 3% per year is reasonable. This is particularly true if neighboring towns all have significantly higher rates.

• Flood Control – a serious issue that regained focus due to recent weather conditions. It seems like we need a short term and long term plan. Short term fixes to include dredging Winter’s Pond (in progress) and also, to possibly clear out tributaries of obstructions (?). Longer term it looks like there is a state based initiative in place that currently has New Jersey support/approval but lacks the same from New York State. Seems to me that we need to elevate this issue as a high priority for our elected state officials who need to be strongly encouraged to meet with their New York State counterparts to move forward on the viable, long-term solution.

Part Two of Comments

• 26% tax increase over past two years - it would appear that the current town council and mayor have done a good job in controlling township expenses. If stated accurately, the issue with taxes is not an increase in expenses but rather a reduction in revenue. Included in this reduction in revenue was a huge 79% decrease in state funding (approx. $2 million plus). In addition, it was stated that revenues were down from building permits and police summons. Assuming all this is true, and I think it is, the logical approach would be continued vigilance over our expenses (reinstating Mayor Martel’s zero budget approach) and actively pursue opportunities to increase revenues (without increasing residential taxes). I think there may be significant revenue opportunities already in the pipeline from the Wall Street North development (electrical permit fees, and taxes, etc. as new tenants continue to fill the space).

Three of Comments...

Other sources of revenue should include an unrelenting effort to regain all or part of the 79% loss of state aid (my understating is that recent efforts have enabled the township to have approx. 1/2 million dollars in pension cuts returned to the township). Focus needs to be on finding additional revenue sources (maybe Crossroads is one). Additional note – the concern over council members accepting medical coverage benefits has merit although it appears that more than half have already declined coverage. Also, the comment made regarding looking at best practices of other towns that have low taxes has merit.

• Crossroads – sounds like the horse is already out of the barn. At his point, it doesn’t seem to matter so much how we got there but what we are going to do now in terms of damage control. To those council members that were originally against moving ahead with the development without resident feedback, I say great. However, that doesn’t get you off the hook – you failed in not convincing your fellow council members. It happened on your watch. Looking to the future, we should make sure that our well intentioned actions against the development do not cost the township dearly in legal fees and end up positioning us as prime candidates for low income housing (think massive ward like developments which could result in higher school taxes).

I applaud patch/jessica for hosting this candidates recital. i don't understand why the positioning of the candidates introductions are in a different order than they actually were last night. Mayor daPuzzo made his conspiracy accusations first, before anyone else had spoken. We, in the packed senior center, were all aware that this was just an introduction to the candidates and to their, albeit planned, responses to amalgamated questions of residents' most common concerns. DaPuzzos video playing last on the patch gives it a far less politically seedy feel than it had live at the start of the evening... not that i doubt Bill Laforette isn't pulling any strings that he can. DaPuzzo was trying to make some political headway under the guise of caring about our voices. Bill Laforette was talking jibberish most of the night and was wildly offensive in his early repeated remarks about the non -binding referendum, which means so much to mahwah's citizens and to the integrity of the political process. you would think team Bill might have a little more sensitivity, at least to his language if not our values. LaForette and DaPuzzo should both take their cues from Chuck Jandriss and Steve S.. LIsa DiGiulio was solid and sharp and above all the mayor boys' crap (as always).

They are in the right order. That is how they were sitting on the stage if we the crowd were looking at them. From the left Jandris, LaForet, Sbarra, Digiulio and DaPuzzo. They were in that order for opening statements.

I agree with the order that Kevin specified. The introductions were in the following order; Jandris, LaForet, Sbarra, Di Giulio, DaPuzzo.

Hey Jessica what happened to my post regarding Laforet not answering any of the questions? seems to me there were a few other posts regarding Laforet not answering the questions have also disappered would you please review and let me know,James you out there?