GOP ACTIVIST TO CHALLENGE SARLO IN MAYORAL RACE

ELLIOTT FOR MAYOR

WOOD-RIDGE, NJ  

GOP ACTIVIST TO CHALLENGE SARLO IN MAYORAL RACE

ELLIOTT TO RUN AS WRITE IN CANDIDATE 

WOOD-RIDGE, N.J. ­ Two days after Governor Jon Corzine signed into law a government reform measure that bans dual office holding in the future but protects incumbents like Wood-Ridge Mayor and District 36 State Senator Paul Sarlo, former Democrat Forrest Elliott announced that he will challenge the mayor this year as a Republican write-in candidate. 

Elliott served as a councilman and council president in Rutherford from 1989-1993.  He switched party affiliations a decade ago and moved to Wood-Ridge about 14 years ago. 

“We have all had enough of the hypocrisy of Trenton insiders like Paul Sarlo, who promise us government ethics reforms but then vote to protect their own interests,” said Elliot, a special education teacher. 

“How can Senator Sarlo justify voting for a measure to ban dual office holding, and then turn around and run for mayor at the same time he¹s running for state senate?” 

The newly enacted ban on dual office holding becomes effective in February 2008, but grandfathers current dual office holders.  “It¹s hypocritical to say you support ethics reform and then vote for a bill with a giant loophole that benefits you,” said Elliot. 

SPENDING ISSUES 

In addition to Sarlo¹s dual office holding hypocrisy, Elliott wants to drive home the message on local spending issues, including borough taxes, development and insider dealing. 

Elliott pointed out that this year¹s municipal tax increase ­ in excess of $200 per household this year ­ on top of other recent tax hikes, makes Wood-Ridge one of the highest taxed municipalities in the area.  Citing state figures, Elliott said that borough homeowners have been hit with an average tax hike of $1,787 from 2001 to 2006. 

Elliott also noted that Sarlo¹s dual office holding has not helped the borough obtain the same level of state funding that it received in the past.

This year the borough received only half the extraordinary state aid it expected.  Elliot said Sarlo has made the town dependent on handouts from the state and then failed to obtain the funding. 

“Rather than living within Wood-Ridge¹s means, Mayor Sarlo has spent recklessly and hoped the state would bail him out. That¹s not the way to manage a town,” said Elliott. 

PAY-TO-PLAY & WESTMONT

Elliott, a former planning board member, is also concerned about the massive Westmont Village development and the money pouring into Sarlo¹s campaign coffers from businesses aligned with the project.  Elliott has asked the mayor and council to adopt strict pay-to-play laws that would prohibit most campaign contributors from getting contracts with the borough, but the mayor has refused to adopt such a law. 

“Westmont Village is a poster child for pay-to-play legislation.  Every political insider ­ including the mayor¹s own brother ­ is getting a piece of the action,² said Elliott.  “This development may be good for Senator Sarlo¹s campaign war chest, but it will ruin the community just as the EnCap project that the he supported in the Meadowlands threatens to do.  It will overburden the town¹s school system, increase traffic congestion and pollution, and create crime problems.” 

Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman Rob Ortiz has known Elliott as a donor even before Elliott joined the Chairman¹s Circle, a fundraising organization of the Republican State Committee, formed in 2005. 

“We¹re very pleased that someone is stepping up to challenge the Wood-Ridge mayor, and especially pleased that it¹s someone of Forrest Elliott¹s caliber,” Ortiz said. “The voters always deserve to have a choice when they go to the polls.”  Ortiz also noted that Elliott has pledged conduct a vigorous door to door campaign between now and Election Day. 

Ortiz also noted that Elliott has pledged to secure 3,000 signatures on a petition to ban pay-to-play in Wood-Ridge.   

Elliott has lived in Wood-Ridge for 14.  He attends Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

 ###