September 18, 2009 - 12:58pm
News

Suarez recall effort headed to court

The next stop for the recall effort against Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez is in court.

Bob Avery, the borough’s Republican chairman, says that conflicting information from the borough and county thwarted his attempt to collect signatures to force a recall of Suarez in the November election.  Now, he says, a Ridgefield official is denying him the chance to file for a special recall election next year.  

“We didn’t even collect any signatures,” Avery said of his effort to get the recall on the November ballot.  “Nobody would give us proper dates as to when the signature were due.  We got different answers from different officials on when it was due,”

Avery says that Borough Clerk Martin Gobbo refused to allow him to try to force a special election because Avery already filed a notice of intention to collect signatures for a November recall.  Gobbo, he said, told him that state law requires a year between recall efforts.  Avery says state law only requires the wait if the recall election has already happened.  

Gobbo could not be reached for comment.  

If Avery gets the go ahead to start the process, he’ll have 160 days to collect about 1,400 signatures of registered voters – no small feat in a town of just 11,000.  

Suarez was arrested in July for allegedly taking bribes from an FBI informant posing as a developer.  Despite pressure from top Democrats, including Governor Corzine, he has refused to resign.  

Matt Friedman is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.

Comments

I know first hand about going through a similar


town clerk "Ridgefield but not Ridgefield but in Bergen County experience" and -getting constant OFFICIAL misinformation at every turn.

And the entire fiasco from start to finish: no doubt about that; was designed to use the town clerk and her office to do bad things to a citizen who was simply trying to follow procedures. And the town clerk is the only designated person who can complete the tasks...At least until the county was notified and back up support was provided on more than ONE FRONT.

Supposedly, the town clerk in my case and scenario was formally reprimanded. At least that is what He told me and more than once.

I don't even believe it or Him. Not a word.

09/18/09 2:16 pm

AVERY = FAILURE


Bob Avery, another disgruntaled politician tossed out on his ear when he lost to Suarez in his failed election for Mayor.

Can anyone tell us how many times Bob Avery has been arrested?

Seems to be a question the Ridgefield GOP refuses to answer.

09/19/09 10:49 am

BenedictArnold


a bitter old man, who has been part of Bergen County culture of corruption for years now, does not know when to hang it up.

Earth to Arnold you are your Mafia Dems are either going to jail or will be all taken out of office this year. Bergen voters are tired of feeding your fat faces.

You can visit you pal Suarez in Jail next year.

Ps dont forget to bring him the bar of soap.

09/19/09 1:59 pm