In two weeks, West New York residents will have a chance to make their preference known in a battle that has played out at town meetings, in courtrooms, on the streets of West New York, and in the media for over two years.
On Tuesday, May 10, residents will vote for five candidates for the West New York Board of Commissioners. Those five will then choose a mayor from among themselves.
On Tuesday, May 10, residents will vote for five candidates for the West New York Board of Commissioners. Those five will then choose a mayor from among themselves.
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Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega is running for re-election along with the incumbent commissioners.
Dr. Felix Roque, an outspoken critic of Vega’s and leader of the failed effort to recall the mayor and commissioners last year, is leading the challenging slate along with Assemblywoman Caridad Rodriguez.
The road to election has been strewn with potholes for both camps, with mud flying before the campaign even officially began and seemingly with no end in sight any time soon (see sidebar).
So who are the people behind the ruthless allegations, the promotional signs plastered all over town, and the nightly rounds of shaking hands and kissing babies as they vie for the vote?
The incumbents
Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega: Born in Cuba, Vega immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 10 years old.
He has served as mayor since 2006 and made his first entry into politics in 1984 when he was appointed as a member of the West New York Rent Control Board.
He’s also served on the Board of Adjustments, Hudson County Schools of Technology Board of Education, Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and New Jersey State Assembly.
Since he was first elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1991 he has served as the Director of Revenue and Finance, Parks, Public Property and Recreation, and Public Safety.
He has also served as athletic director at Memorial High School for over 20 years.
Last week Vega said that his proudest accomplishment – and biggest challenge – during his tenure as mayor has been working to deal with the “financial collapse of the budget inherited.”
And if elected to another term, his focus will remain on the same.
“Everything revolves around the town budget,” said Vega.
Commissioner Gerald Lange: Currently serving as the Commissioner of Revenue and Finance, Lange was born and raised in West New York and has served as a town commissioner since 1995. In addition to revenue and finance, he has also served in the departments of parks and public works.
He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in political science and has owned a pool management business.
Although Lange’s personal life has often been the subject of controversy, he said that hasn’t dampened his commitment to the job.
“People who know me know the truth,” he told the Reporter last week. “I’m very committed to my town and I like to help people.”
Lange said he is most proud of the team that his department compiled to tackle the town finances.
“We put together a great team,” said Lange. “It’s a great accomplishment to get a group of people together to work harmoniously.”
Commissioner Michelle Fernandez-Lopez: The first female commissioner to be elected to a full-term in West New York, Fernandez-Lopez is currently serving as the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Fernandez-Lopez immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of nine.
She graduated from Kean University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary bilingual bicultural education and Spanish and currently teaches at the Harry L. Bain School.
A wife and mother of three, Fernandez-Lopez is also a founder and president of the West New York Women’s Club.
Commissioner Lawrence Riccardi: Riccardi has served 25 years in public office and is currently serving as the Commissioner of Public Safety.
A resident of West New York for over 60 years, Riccardi graduated from Jersey City State College with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and has also completed a master’s degrees in Student Personnel Services and Guidance and Education and Educational Administration.
He worked in West New York as a teacher and principal prior to retiring in 2002.
Commissioner Alberto Rodriguez: The youngest commissioner ever elected in West New York, Rodriguez is serving his first term as Commissioner of Public Works and also runs the newly-formed Division of Cultural Affairs.
A married father of one, Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of Hudson County. He graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Political Science.
Rodriguez said that while he is very proud of work he has done restructuring and modernizing the Department of Public Works, he said he is most proud of the creation of the division of cultural affairs.
“We’ve done so many different things,” said Rodriguez. “When we’re re-elected, we’ll continue growing it even more.”
The challengers
Dr. Felix Roque: Roque came to the United States from Cuba with his family when he was 11 years old and has lived or worked in West New York ever since.
As a teenager, Roque’s father sent him and his brothers to a military high school – a turning point that he said took the anger he had against Fidel Castro and the loss of his home in Cuba and turned it into something positive.
“I wasn’t a very good boy,” Roque said. “I used to be one of those thugs on the streets but that anger was channeled into working as a team with people, working for a goal. I learned from military school that nothing is impossible, you always have to strive to do your best for yourself and for your country.”
Roque joined the United States Army in 1976 and went on to study for a medical career. He currently serves as a Colonel and Commander of the 4215 CSH Hospital in Virginia and a director at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic.
Assemblywoman Caridad Rodriguez: Serving the 33rd District of New Jersey, Rodriguez was the first female Hispanic Assemblyperson for the district and the first Cuban-American Assemblywoman in the state.
Prior to her term as assemblywoman, Rodriguez was appointed as a West New York Commissioner by former Mayor Albio Sires in 2006 after spending a total of 12 years in the mayor’s office in various capacities, including as the Executive Assistant to Sires.
Rodriguez has also been involved in West New York through the Planning Board, Board of Adjustments, and Municipal Alliance Committee Against Drugs and Alcohol.
Born in Cuba, Rodriguez immigrated to the United States with her family as a child and has been a Hudson County resident ever since.
Though she has spent the past few years on the state level of government, Rodriguez – a married mother of three and grandmother – said she is ready to bring that experience home to her town.
She currently works as a patient representative at Palisades Medical Center, which is a part-time position.
Dr. Count Wiley: Originally from North Bergen, Wiley graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, did post graduate work in public Administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and graduated from Bridgeport University’s College of Chiropractic.
He has lived in West New York with his wife and five children since 2008.
An entrepreneur in various industries, Wiley’s real world experience in politics came at 27-years-old when he ran for state assembly.
His current practice, Friends and Family Center for Health, is a multi-disciplinary health center located in North Bergen.
Wiley, whose father is the superintendent of public works in North Bergen, has a particular interest in that field and said he would like to see West New York’s Department of Public Works brought up to par with its neighbor to the north.
He would also like to work with historic preservation initiatives in town and expand the cultural programming.
Fior D’Aliza Frias: D’Aliza Frias initially set out to run for mayor on her own, but said she joined the Together We Can team for the best interests of West New York.
Born in the Dominican Republic, D’Aliza Frias grew up in Massachusetts and New York City. She has been a resident of West New York for over 10 years.
A single mom of three children ranging from age 10 to 19, she has a professional background in business and some college level work in political science.
D’Aliza Frias is also active in the non-profit sector as a volunteer at the Dvine Konektion food pantry in West New York and as President and founder of Women United to Change the World, an organization that focuses on the development, growth and well being of single mothers managing their careers.
She said she would like to bring the philanthropic attitude to City Hall with programs such as a public education workshop for adults that want to learn English.
“That’s the type of administration that really makes a difference in people’s lives,” said D’Aliza Frias. “If you don’t have a hand in helping out, who will?”
Ruben Vargas: Born in the Dominican Republic, Vargas immigrated to the United States at 23 and has been a resident of West New York for over 30 years. Vargas has also been a business owner in town for over 20 years with his car dealership, Ruben Auto Sales, and more recently, Caroline Beauty Salon.
When Vargas arrived in the U.S., he said there was no assistance for adults to learn English, so he wound up learning through a friend.
Though the bilingual work of political office in West New York might be a challenge for the predominantly Spanish speaker, Vargas is confident he’ll get the job done well.
A father of five, Vargas said he decided to get involved in politics to help people. “I deal with people every day in my business,” said Vergas. “I like to work with the community.”
Casting an educated vote
Residents can learn more about their choices for mayor/commissioner by researching the candidates online and contacting their respective campaign offices.
The ten candidates from both major slates also participated in an election forum hosted by The Hudson Reporter last week, which can be viewed at www.hudsonreporter.com.
An independent candidate, Ercides Aguasvives, has also filed for election, however he did not respond to calls prior to the debate or this article.
For more information on Vega Team 2011, visit http://teamvega2011.com.
For more information on Together We Can, visit www.togetherwecanwny.org.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.
***SIDEBAR***
Down and dirty campaigning – what’s next?
For a campaign that started on a bad note, with one side trying to oust the other from their seats before an election was even imminent, it’s no surprise that this year’s election in West New York features plenty of mudslinging.
A couple of weeks ago the two candidates for mayor continued their fight over finances, but this time it was personal, with Vega criticizing Roque for his lavish lifestyle and Roque hitting back by condemning what he sees as Vega’s lifelong career on the taxpayer’s dime.
Roque and his running mates meanwhile have been touting their commitment to not accepting any ‘perks’ that come with the part-time job of commissioner – including cell phones, cars, and at least the first two years of salary – as an example of sacrifice in a time of financial crisis.
This week brought a host of new allegations from each side. Roque’s team filed a complaint with the Hudson County Prosecutor regarding an investigation conducted by private citizens in town that allegedly uncovered an illegal garbage collection service running at taxpayers’ expense.
Photographs showing West New York Department of Public Works employees collecting garbage at a commercial business on Bergenline Avenue were released along with the complaint.
Roque and Assemblywoman Caridad Rodriguez allege that this is criminal activity because commercial businesses in West New York are required to contract with private waste haulers to dispose of their garbage and the contractor hired by the town and paid for out of municipal taxes is supposed to be for private residences only.
And on Wednesday, Vision Media Marketing (who handles the press for Vega’s team) sent out a release alleging that Ruben Vargas of the Together We Can slate and his wife Carmen owe $30,000 in fines and penalties for operating two illegal boardinghouses in West New York.
According to the release, last year town building officials discovered that properties owned by the Vargas’ had been converted from two family homes to illegal boardinghouses where tenants rent individual rooms.
Reports were also filed citing “unlivable conditions” at the properties, including lack of gas and hot water and a clogged bathtub.
Fines were issued for violations at the properties and according to a West New York Construction Code official they are still outstanding.
With election just over a week away, there are sure to be more allegations and mud flung in the coming days. Stay up to date on the latest at www.hudsonreporter.com.