Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • November 2, 2011 Mahwah election (continued from page 5) Building and senior center, and Continental Soldiers’ Park. She has been active in Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs for over 20 years. She is also an exempt member of Company #1 Mahwah Ambulance Corps, a founder and former chairwoman of the Mahwah Senior Citizen’s Advisory Board, and the recipient of the Mahwah Citizen Award with a longstanding record of public service. “The Crossroads rezoning was inconsistent with our current master plan,” DiGiulio said, “and all of the information about the proposed retail mall came from the developer. The traffic study and the ordinances were given to us by the developer. “Expediting the vote and ignoring the public outcry and depending solely on the developer’s analysis without doing an independent traffic study is totally unacceptable. A nonbinding referendum on the ballot in the November election as to whether the people of Mahwah wanted this project should have taken place before any action was taken and more information should have been made available to the public. “More transparency and open communication are important parts of being a leader. We need to update our master plan so we may secure the best possible ratables and still keep our quality of life. Communication, planning, balance, commitment, and open government are important to the people of Mahwah so that the best possible services are provided and a sound economic base is maintained. “I am concerned for the financial well-being of the Township of Mahwah and strong leadership, honesty, and sound management are essential and I believe I can provide the leadership based on my 23 years of experience and strong commitment to all the people of Mahwah.” Laforet is a local businessman who has owned of the Sunoco Gas Station at the corner of Franklin Turnpike and Miller Road for 34 years. He and his wife Maureen have lived in Mahwah since they were children and have been married for 38 years. They have two children, both of whom attended the Mahwah schools, and he is a current member of the township’s board of adjustment and the Mahwah Municipal Alliance. A former member of the Mahwah Youth Sports Boosters and coach for Mahwah football, he has been a member of the Mahwah Chamber of Commerce for 34 years and he is a member of the Mahwah Beautification Committee. He has been named the Mahwah Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year twice, and he was the Bergen County Man of the Year in 1991, while receiving the Mahwah Pride Award in 2003. He was the co-organizer of first Mahwah Day and he has helped raise money for various charities. “Mahwah needs a change, a new mayor and new ideas,” Laforet said. “I have been a businessman in Mahwah for over 30 years. I am not a politician. “Mahwah deserves a change from the 34 collective years of my two opponents, and their inability to manage our future resulting in high taxes, high water bills, and lawsuits related to the Crossroads, which they have handled in an amateur way. They will speak to their experience, but I say this experience has failed to deliver results; it has not worked. “Had they been conscious of our financial conditions, service cuts, and layoffs they would have stopped taking full blown health benefits for part time elected officials. That is simply unacceptable and it was kept secret from our community. I will refuse these benefits, and recommend they be used to restore our emergency services. “Further, the job of mayor requires accessibility that neither of my opponents can offer this to the community, because each answers to an employer in another town and cannot provide the accessibility nor business common sense I believe is needed to correct the current conditions we face. “I will give this community unprecedented access to government and a complete accountability and more importantly, a voice in government. The time has come for a new mayor, with new ideas, working hand in hand with community leaders to restore confidence in our government. “Mahwah deserves a mayor with a business sense and deep concern for the community.” Council candidate Jandris has been married for 18 years and he and his wife grew up in Wyckoff. They have two children, both of whom attend the Mahwah schools. He has lived in Mahwah 13 years and holds a bachelor’s degree from Arcadia University. He owns and operates the Children’s Learning Center on Leighton Place, where he has been director of finance since 1990. Jandris was appointed to the council in March and has been a planning board member since 2000, when he was appointed to that post by former Mayor Richard J. Martel. He has also been a little league coach and a member of Mahwah Ambulance Company #4 since 2008, where he is currently that company’s captain. “I am running for council partly because I feel that the government ‘for the people’ has lost touch with its people. There was quite a large emotional crowd at the March 31, 2011 council meeting in opposition to the rezoning of the Crossroads site from office to retail use. The decision should have gone to a non�binding public referendum. Personally, I feel the site would be better suited for a high tech office or medical use, similar to Stryker or the NY Stock Exchange properties. “I encourage the public to come forward and voice their concerns on my website because the Township of Mahwah belongs to all of us. “The other reason I’m running is that with my financial background, strong values and ability to listen, I believe I can help. I am supportive of recreation, parklands and open space. I support volunteers within the township.” He added, “I will work hard for the well�being of the residents in Mahwah, to protect our water supply, maintain our services, and enforce the current zoning of the township. I hope to bring new business ventures into town to boost commerce and tax ratables. Moreover, I look forward to upholding the current character, diversity and beauty of Mahwah.” Sbarra has been a homeowner in Mahwah for 19 years. He has been married to his wife Barbara for 28 years and they have three grown children. He is the owner of Sport Clips in Wyckoff which is expected to open in November. Previously, he was a senior manager of FedEx in Fairfield, director of human resources for Pinkerton Security, manager of human resources for Commerce Bank, and vice president/recruitment manager for Wachovia Bank. Sbarra has been a volunteer for 15 years in the Mahwah DARE Street and Roller Hockey Program, as a basketball and softball coach, and for the Mahwah Sports Boosters. He is a founding trustee of the Mahwah Ice Hockey Association and a volunteer assistant ice hockey coach for Mahwah High School. He has also been a fund raiser for the United Way in Fairfield. “As a 19-year resident and taxpayer of Mahwah, I have had the opportunity to raise my family in a community that once had homes that were affordable, low taxes and plenty of open space,” Sbarra told the Villadom TIMES. “Much has changed over those years. Our taxes continue to increase, home prices have become unaffordable for our children, and development has decreased our open space. “This year, we have experienced the passing of our long time Mayor, Richard J. Martel, the controversy of the rezoning of the Crossroads property, another increase in our municipal taxes, and a reduction of township services. “These issues have caused many residents to lose trust in our town government. It is for these very reasons that I have decided to run for a position on the township council. It is time to make a difference and help change the way things are done. We need to bring honesty, integrity, and transparency back to our government. In order to reduce taxes, we need to look for creative ways to increase our revenues and reduce our costs without sacrificing services. “We need to communicate more and I propose that we tape the council and planning board meetings and show them on our cable television station. This way, our residents can understand how their government runs. “My overall management experience and negotiating skills will enable me to make a difference for all of the taxpayers in Mahwah.”