Letter: Mahwah Councilman Endorses Roth For Mayor

Editor's note: The following letter was written by Mahwah Councilman Robert Hermansen.

I can give 60 million reasons why John Roth should be our next mayor, but I will start with the key reasons first.

John is an intelligent, diligent, and problem-solving council president. I have been lucky enough to work with John over the years. In the past few years, John was able to bring Access For All to Mahwah. He has helped to cut 20 percent of the tax increases to our residents proposed by Mayor William Laforet, an average $400 savings per household over those four years.

John is concerned about our environment; he brought forward and encouraged the council to pass an ordinance against bringing the Pilgrim Pipeline to Mahwah. He was also able to convince 15 other towns to join with us in a legal fund to fight the pipeline, thereby sharing legal expenses.

John helped to fight the privatization of Department of Public Works, which Mayor Laforet proposed. John also helped to defeat a plan by Laforet to create a five-story high-rise and high-density housing project by our train station.

John has continued to be integral in helping to fight our low-income housing number. John knows a bad result could change the picturesque look of Mahwah and affect our schools and taxes forever.

As for the 60 million reasons, currently Mahwah is involved in a federal lawsuit, which we have already spent $95,000 to defend. Mahwah is covered to some degree but not for punitive damages. If the court awards $60 million in punitive damages, it will come right out of the taxpayers’ pockets. Our current mayor is responsible for this lawsuit.

Please vote on Nov. 8. It is time to elect a mayor who is responsible and puts your needs and Mahwah’s needs first. Vote John Roth for mayor.

Robert Hermansen,
Mahwah Councilman