For the sixth year in a row, Primary Day is seeing one or more contests between the two factions of the Democratic Party in Englewood. One faction, including Mayor Michael Wildes and Councilman Jack Drakeford, is allied with County Democratic Boss Joe Ferriero. The other faction, including Council members Gordon Johnson, Ken Rosenzweig, Charlotte Bennett Schoen and Scott Reddin, is opposed to Ferriero. The anti-Ferriero forces, after a string of victories in recent years, have gained control of our City government with a 4-1 majority on the City Council. The Ferriero forces, however, are mounting a major counter effort this year, challenging Rosenzweig in the First Ward and Reddin in the Third Ward with a blitz of mailings, signs and door-to-door campaigning. The monetary cost of this effort, when tallied, may well set a local record.

What is at stake is nothing less than control of the City government, meaning control of jobs, contracts, planning decisions, and the allocation of City services. The County machine works by giving preference to those who contribute and those who play the game, and trying to destroy those who get in the way. Rosenzweig and Reddin, to their credit, have tried to bring back responsible boss-free government to Englewood, and have thus encountered the wrath of Ferriero and his allies. Anyone who doubts the utter cynicism and venality of the Ferriero machine should pay heed to the headlines this week about the Federal corruption investigation into its activities.

Everything else you hear or read about this election on Tuesday is beside the point. If you live in the First Ward, vote for Ken Rosenzweig. If you live in the Third Ward, vote for Scott Reddin. Wherever you live, vote for the candidates listed as Real Bergen Democrats.