Residents criticize mayor’s partisan mailing; mayor defends outreach to county officials

Two Ridgewood residents told the council during public comment on June 9 that a letter sent to village households and signed by the mayor urged recipients to vote for Democratic county candidates and that using the mayor’s title for that message was inappropriate in a nonpartisan municipal government.

Eleanor “Ellie” Gruber said she opened the letter because the envelope was labeled “important letter from mayor Paul Varianos” and was disappointed to find it urged residents to “vote for democratic candidates.” “It is not illegal, but it certainly is not kosher,” Gruber told the council. Anne Loving, a Ridgewood resident, echoed the concern and said the mailing should not have used the mayor’s title or outwardly introduced partisan politics into what she called a nonpartisan governing room.

The mayor responded during the meeting by reading a portion of the letter and saying the message reflected long-standing working relationships between the village and Bergen County commissioners. “They are our partners. We need them,” the mayor said, listing projects county officials helped advance for Ridgewood. The mayor said he supports “the people who support this village and who are always there for us” and that he has praised Republican legislators in the same setting.

Council members did not take formal disciplinary or other action during the workshop; the exchange occurred during the public-comment period and the mayor read an excerpt of his letter in response to comments.