Mayoral Candidate Filed 5 Lawsuits Against Township, Opponents Claim Conflict Of Interest

WAYNE, NJ — A Republican candidate for mayor has brought five lawsuits against the township regarding tax appeals she filed and a has conflict of interest regarding the tax assessor, her opponent's campaign claims — allegations she called "desperate."

Council President Lonni Miller Ryan and her husband filed tax appeals regarding the assessment of their Lake Drive East home from 2012 to 2016. Each year the property's assessed value — $244,3000 — was the same and each year the Passaic County Board of Taxation denied the appeal. Ryan has filed five lawsuits against the town.

All five civil complaints are still pending in court, according to Dan Knitzer, Vergano's campaign spokesman.

Ryan is running against 10-year incumbent Chris Vergano in the June 6 primary. Dan Knitzer, spokesman for Vergano's campaign, said Wayne chief tax assessor James Kreitz must testify regarding the case.

Ryan, along with the eight other council persons, approved hiring Kreitz in 2015. Vergano's campaign said that Ryan voting to hire Kreitz was an "obvious" conflict of interest on her part.

Vergano said that the township would have to retain special counsel and hire a separate tax assessor to handle the lawsuits.

"Councilwoman Ryan's legal and financial problems should not be an issue in this campaign," Vergano said in a statement. "But her own negligence has created this unfortunate situation."

Councilman Joseph Schweighardt, Vergano's running mate, said the idea that Ryan is running for mayor while suing the taxpayers, "is ridiculous."

"At least she should have been honest enough to inform the Township or smart enough to abstain on the appointments," Schweigardt said. "She had to know this would be a problem."

Ryan called her opponents' allegations "desperate and clearly designed to mislead voters."

"Their statements are more than flagrant misrepresentations of the tax appeal process," Ryan said, "they're politics at its worst."

Schweighardt mentioned the lawsuits at a council meeting Monday. Ryan was not at the meeting. She was traveling with her daughter on a class trip.

"They're playing politics from the podium and it's a transparent attempt to distract from their records," Ryan said. "Their willingness to do or say anything to get elected is disgusting."

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