Wildes Star No Longer Rising
June 07, 2007 |
Norman's Corner
Until recently, Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes was
seen as a rising star in Bergen County Democratic
politics. However, a series of political setbacks in
recent months has hurt his chances for political
advancement. Following his reelection as Mayor last
November, Wildes was announced as the Bergen County
Democratic Organization's official candidate for the
District 37 State Senate seat held by Loretta
Weinberg. However, as a result of a deal brokered by Governor Corzine,
County Democratic Chair Joseph
Ferriero withdrew his support from Wildes,
leaving Weinberg unopposed in the June 5
primary.
More recently, Wildes backed two candidates for the Englewood Board of Education, who were decisively defeated in the April school election. And on June 5, Wildes’ handpicked candidate for the City Council in his own 2nd Ward of Englewood, Marvin Anhalt, was defeated by incumbent Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett Schoen by a 55%-45% margin. As Mayor, Wildes has no vote on the five-person City Council under Englewood’s Charter, and his veto of Council actions can be overridden by a 4-1 majority. Thus, as the Council now stands, his influence is marginal.
His lack of clout was underlined by the recent City Council action to renegotiate an agreement with developer S. Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC regarding the major new building project now starting south of Route 4. The rationale for this project had always been the attraction of substantial new tax income. However, the Wildes-dominated Planning Board had essentially agreed to the developer's demands for scaling it back, which then required intervention by the City Council to guarantee a fair return to Englewood taxpayers.
Prior to all these developments, Wildes had indicated an interest in running for the Ninth Congressional District seat in the U. S. House of Representatives held by former Englewood Mayor Steve Rothman. The rationale was that Rothman might run in 2008 for the U. S. Senate seat held by Frank Lautenberg, thus leaving a vacancy. However, as the political landscape stands, such ambition seems distinctly farfetched.
More recently, Wildes backed two candidates for the Englewood Board of Education, who were decisively defeated in the April school election. And on June 5, Wildes’ handpicked candidate for the City Council in his own 2nd Ward of Englewood, Marvin Anhalt, was defeated by incumbent Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett Schoen by a 55%-45% margin. As Mayor, Wildes has no vote on the five-person City Council under Englewood’s Charter, and his veto of Council actions can be overridden by a 4-1 majority. Thus, as the Council now stands, his influence is marginal.
His lack of clout was underlined by the recent City Council action to renegotiate an agreement with developer S. Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC regarding the major new building project now starting south of Route 4. The rationale for this project had always been the attraction of substantial new tax income. However, the Wildes-dominated Planning Board had essentially agreed to the developer's demands for scaling it back, which then required intervention by the City Council to guarantee a fair return to Englewood taxpayers.
Prior to all these developments, Wildes had indicated an interest in running for the Ninth Congressional District seat in the U. S. House of Representatives held by former Englewood Mayor Steve Rothman. The rationale was that Rothman might run in 2008 for the U. S. Senate seat held by Frank Lautenberg, thus leaving a vacancy. However, as the political landscape stands, such ambition seems distinctly farfetched.
