Former Mayor 'Definitely Leaning Towards' Running This November

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 . Last November’s election determined who would finish out the final year of the term late Mayor Dick Martel, who , 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 .