Huttle Wins in a Squeaker
June 07, 2009 Filed in: Politics
On June 2, 2009, possibly the hardest fought primary
election in Englewood’s history was won by attorney
Frank Huttle by a margin of 15 votes over Third Ward
Councilman Scott Reddin. In the contest for the
Democratic Party endorsement for mayor, Huttle
received 1285 votes to 1270 for Reddin and 224 for
Democratic Municipal Committee Chair Dierdre Glenn
Paul. In the contest for Council at Large,
Huttle’s running mate, leadership consultant Lynne
Harwell Algrant, received 1343 votes to 885 for
Reddin’s running mate, attorney Jason Snyder.
Following the announcements by Mayor Michael Wildes and Councilman-at-Large Gordon Johnson that they would not seek reelection, the Englewood Municipal Committee solicited candidates to run for these positions in the June Democratic Primary and in the November General Election. After listening to presentations from persons interested in running, the Committee on March 18 gave its official endorsement to Huttle and Algrant. Normally this endorsement in Englewood is equivalent to election, since running against “the party line” in a primary is difficult, and there has been no significant Republican opposition in November for twenty years.
But this time Third Ward Councilman Scott Reddin, who had for some time made no secret of his desire to succeed Wildes, announced his candidacy, and the campaign began. Initially, “Reddin for Mayor” signs appeared on streets throughout the City. Signs with Huttle’s picture followed., and then signs urging a vote for Reddin and Snyder. Only in the last stage of the campaign were signs for Glenn Paul, and for Algrant, seen. The street signs were supplemented by lawn signs, and the total accumulation would suggest that there has been no recession in the business of local sign makers.
The last five Democratic primaries in Englewood have been characterized by contests between candidates aligned with the Bergen County Democratic machine and candidates opposed to the machine. In this year’s primary, however, none of the candidates were aligned with the machine, and there were no significant policy differences among them. There has been nonetheless a degree of bitterness evident, stemming from personality differences and from a perceived challenge to the controlling City Council majority, consisting of council members Reddin, Ken Rosenzweig and Charlotte Bennett Schoen.
The five candidates presented their platforms at various public forums, notably that of the League of Women Voters on May 21, where they appeared before an overflow crowd. The usual campaign brochures, handshaking and doorbell ringing were supplemented by letters and emails of endorsement, and by recorded phone appeals. Based on the volume of signs, mailings, and phone calls, as well as the retention of campaign workers to canvass the City, Huttle clearly outspent the other candidates by a significant margin.
The Englewood Report commends all the candidates for running a largely clean campaign, focusing on positive arguments rather than on tearing down their opponents. Englewood can only benefit from this example of democracy in action.
Following the announcements by Mayor Michael Wildes and Councilman-at-Large Gordon Johnson that they would not seek reelection, the Englewood Municipal Committee solicited candidates to run for these positions in the June Democratic Primary and in the November General Election. After listening to presentations from persons interested in running, the Committee on March 18 gave its official endorsement to Huttle and Algrant. Normally this endorsement in Englewood is equivalent to election, since running against “the party line” in a primary is difficult, and there has been no significant Republican opposition in November for twenty years.
But this time Third Ward Councilman Scott Reddin, who had for some time made no secret of his desire to succeed Wildes, announced his candidacy, and the campaign began. Initially, “Reddin for Mayor” signs appeared on streets throughout the City. Signs with Huttle’s picture followed., and then signs urging a vote for Reddin and Snyder. Only in the last stage of the campaign were signs for Glenn Paul, and for Algrant, seen. The street signs were supplemented by lawn signs, and the total accumulation would suggest that there has been no recession in the business of local sign makers.
The last five Democratic primaries in Englewood have been characterized by contests between candidates aligned with the Bergen County Democratic machine and candidates opposed to the machine. In this year’s primary, however, none of the candidates were aligned with the machine, and there were no significant policy differences among them. There has been nonetheless a degree of bitterness evident, stemming from personality differences and from a perceived challenge to the controlling City Council majority, consisting of council members Reddin, Ken Rosenzweig and Charlotte Bennett Schoen.
The five candidates presented their platforms at various public forums, notably that of the League of Women Voters on May 21, where they appeared before an overflow crowd. The usual campaign brochures, handshaking and doorbell ringing were supplemented by letters and emails of endorsement, and by recorded phone appeals. Based on the volume of signs, mailings, and phone calls, as well as the retention of campaign workers to canvass the City, Huttle clearly outspent the other candidates by a significant margin.
The Englewood Report commends all the candidates for running a largely clean campaign, focusing on positive arguments rather than on tearing down their opponents. Englewood can only benefit from this example of democracy in action.
