Election 2023: Wayne Council Candidate Fran Ritter

WAYNE, NJ — In the 2023 general election, residents in Wayne will be voting for state, county, and township officials, as well as the local school board. Patch has asked candidates in contested races to answer profiles about their campaigns.

Early voting begins Oct. 28 in Wayne and across New Jersey, for the general election Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Here is the candidate profile for Fran Ritter, a Democrat running for re-election as Wayne's Ward 5 councilperson.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the county clerk’s office. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 7 general election. Local candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Michelle.Rotuno-Johnson@patch.com.

Name: Fran Ritter

Age: 58

Town of residence: Wayne, New Jersey

Position sought: Re-election to Wayne Ward 5 Council

Family information: Two children ages 18 and 19, recent graduates of Wayne Hills High School

Education: Bachelor of Science, New York University Stern School of Business, New York, New York; Juris Doctor, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts

Occupation: Attorney & Compliance Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co. since 2004.

Have you held any elected or appointed offices before? If so, what are they?

Currently serving as Wayne Ward 5 Councilwoman and as Trustee and Past-President of Brittany Chase Condominium Association, Inc.

Why are you running for this position (or running for re-election, if you are an incumbent)?

I am running for re-election to continue my service as an independent voice on the Council.

What sets you apart from other candidates?

While serving on the Council, I have brought greater transparency, accountability and integrity to Wayne government. For example, when the Mayor had introduced a surprise ordinance this past January to increase his salary from $18,000 to $140,000 per year, I was the only Councilmember to raise public awareness to it and to oppose it. More recently, I brought transparency to the Mayor’s hidden plan to replace our volunteer ambulance squad’s daytime response with a private billable service of his choosing.

As a Wayne Township council member, what would be your main priority and/or focus? The most significant issue our community faces is residential overdevelopment. I offer alternatives that will keep our schools from overcrowding, reduce traffic and stabilize our property taxes.

Wayne saw the biggest municipal tax hike since 2008 was passed this year, and the township's population keeps increasing. What should township officials prioritize moving forward?

The Township’s first priority must be gaining control over rampant residential development. The second must be to partner with the county, state and federal governments to get a better return on the tax dollars we send them.

What do you think makes Wayne Township shine - what makes it a desirable place to live? What could use some more work?

The number one reason our residents give me for why they chose Wayne is our outstanding public school system. Our safe neighborhoods and quality housing stock also add to Wayne’s desirability. We could do better by incentivizing commercial developers to create downtown areas with a hometown feel in various neighborhoods throughout this very large community.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Residential overdevelopment is overwhelming us with overcrowded schools, increased traffic and higher property taxes. I will always work for the people of Wayne and not for residential developers who are profiting at our expense.

More info on election deadlines and early voting

For new voters, New Jersey’s deadline to register for the Nov. 7 election is Oct. 17. This is also the deadline for people who need to update their registration to change their name or their address on their voter record.

In-person early voting for the general election will be Oct. 28-Nov. 5. Hours will be Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m. The Wayne location is Wayne Main Library, at 461 Valley Road.

If you are already registered to vote and want to check your registration status or see where your polling place is, you can do so online.

Any New Jersey voter may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the application and returning it to their county clerk's office.

Then, they may return it by mail, in a secure ballot drop box, or at the county Board of Elections office.

All 40 of New Jersey’s legislative districts also have elections this year for state Senate and General Assembly seats. A full list of state Senate and General Assembly candidates is on the state’s website.
Related articles:

• School Board Elections 2023: See Who Filed To Run In Wayne Township
• Wayne Election 2023: See Council Candidates Who Filed To Run
• Elections 2023: See Who Filed To Run For Passaic County Offices