Editing Ridgefield, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
[[File:2016-03-12 16 49 54 View north along U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9 (Broad Avenue) at Bergen County Route 124 (Hendricks Causeway) in Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Broad Avenue in Ridgefield]]
Ridgefield is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 160.</ref> The borough form of government used by Ridgefield is a "[[weak mayor]] / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can [[veto]] ordinances subject to an [[veto override|override]] by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=2014-09-24 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the [[mayor]] of Ridgefield Borough is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Hugo Jimenez, who was appointed to serve an unexpired term of office ending on December 31, 2023. Members of the Ridgefield Borough Council are Council President Russell A. Castelli (D, 2023), Craig Dorsett (D, 2024), Hugo Jimenez (D, 2025), James V. Kontolios (D, 2025), Lauren Larkin (D, 2023) and Yongki Colin Ryu (D, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[http://www.ridgefieldnj.gov/index.asp?Type=B_DIR&SEC={13AFB65E-F322-49CE-A66B-78315FBE50BE} Meet Our Mayor and Council], Ridgefield, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2022. "The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and is eligible for re-election.... The Council consists of six members. Two are elected at large each year for three-year terms."</ref><ref>[https://www.ridgefieldnj.gov/vertical/sites/%7BB4066A45-ED3A-4321-9A1B-3898EDEEE668%7D/uploads/Borough_of_Ridgefield_-_2022_Budget_Adopted(1).pdf 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Ridgefield, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2022.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=58 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2022>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Certified%20Statement%20of%20Vote%20Book%2011-21-22.pdf Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Bergen2021>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Statement%20of%20Vote%2011-17-21(1).pdf Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Bergen2020>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/NOV_2020_General_Precinct_Summary.pdf Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Bergen2019>[http://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/SOV%20Book%20Report%20as%20of%2012-10-2019.pdf Bergen County November 5, 2019 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated December 10, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

Hugo Jimenez was appointed as mayor to fill the unexpired seat of [[Anthony R. Suarez]] expiring in December 2023 that became vacant when he took a seat as a judge. Joanna Leigh Congalton-Hali was appointed to fill the council seat Jimenez had held expiring in December 2025.

In January 2023, the borough council selected Yongki Colin Ryu to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Ray Penabad until he resigned from office; Ryu will serve on an interim basis until the November 2023 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>[https://www.ridgefieldnj.gov/vertical/sites/%7BB4066A45-ED3A-4321-9A1B-3898EDEEE668%7D/uploads/January_7_2023_Sine_Die_Agenda.pdf Mayor and Council Meeting Agenda for January 7, 2023], Borough of Ridgefield. Accessed March 15, 2023. "WHEREAS, there is a vacancy on the Council due to the recent resignation of Councilman Ray Penabad; and WHEREAS, the Democratic Municipal Committee has selected the following three (3) nominees: YONGKI COLIN RYU, YVONNE CARBONE, CHARLES APKARIAN; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield select ____________________ to fill the unexpired term of Ray Penabad until the 2023 General Election."</ref>

In June 2018, the borough council selected Lauren Larkin from a list of three candidates to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of Javier Acosta.<ref>[https://www.ridgefieldnj.gov/vertical/sites/%7BB4066A45-ED3A-4321-9A1B-3898EDEEE668%7D/uploads/June_20_2018_Agenda(2).pdf#page=5 Meeting Agenda for June 20, 2018], Borough of Ridgefield. Accessed October 6, 2019. "Whereas, there is a vacancy on the Council due to the recent resignation of Councilman Javier Acosta.... Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield select Lauren Larkin to fill the unexpired term of Javier Acosta until the 2018 General Election."</ref> Larkin served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Bergen2018>[http://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/SOV%20Report%20Recertification.pdf Bergen County November 6, 2018 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated February 11, 2019. Accessed September 26, 2019.</ref>

In July 2009, Mayor Suarez was one of 44 people arrested across the state as part of [[Operation Bid Rig]], a joint investigation into [[political corruption]] and [[money laundering]]. Suarez was charged with accepting a $10,000 cash bribe for assistance in arranging approvals to develop properties in Ridgefield.<ref>Staff. [https://www.nj.com/news/2009/07/nj_corruption_probe_full_list.html "N.J. corruption probe: List of politicians, religious leaders charged"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', April 1, 2009, updated October 6, 2019. Accessed October 6, 2019. "The U.S. Attorney's Office has divided the 44 people charged in the sweeping N.J. federal probe into two groups -- those accused of public corruption, and those charged in the international money laundering ring.... Anthony Suarez, mayor of Ridgefield Borough and an attorney, and co-defendant Vincent Tabbachino, owner of a tax preparation business in Guttenberg. Suarez accepted $10,000 from the cooperating witness through Tabbachino as a middleman, for Suarez's promised assistance in getting approvals to develop properties in Ridgefield."</ref> In a special election in August 2010, an effort to [[Recall election|recall]] Suarez failed by a 38-vote margin.<ref>[[Richard Pérez-Peña|Perez-Pena, Richard]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/nyregion/19ridgefield.html "A Town Touched by Scandal Withholds Judgment"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 18, 2010. Accessed October 6, 2019. "Ridgefield voters narrowly rejected a recall of Mayor Anthony R. Suarez on Tuesday, more than a year after federal prosecutors charged him with taking a $10,000 bribe from a government informant posing as a corrupt real estate developer.... By the city clerk’s unofficial count, Mr. Suarez survived by 38 votes out of more than 2,000 cast."</ref> He was acquitted on all charges in October 2010.<ref>Ryan, Joe. [https://www.nj.com/news/2010/10/ridgefield_mayor_anthony_suare_2.html "Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez found not guilty on federal corruption charges"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', October 28, 2010, updated April 1, 2019. Accessed October 6, 2019. "When the mayor of Ridgefield was acquitted of conspiracy, bribery and extortion charges, a decade-long string of corruption wins for federal prosecutors in New Jersey came to end. It has been one of the proudest statistics in New Jersey law enforcement, encompassing disgraced public servants high and low, from building inspectors to powerbrokers, including former Newark Mayor Sharpe James and ex-State Senate President John Lynch."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Ridgefield is located in the 9th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#36 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 09}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 36}}

{{NJ Bergen County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
{{PresHead|place=Ridgefield |source=<br>2024<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-bergen.pdf Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2020<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-bergen.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], published December 18, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2025. Note that these are the correct results for the 2020 general election.</ref> 2016<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 14, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2012<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2012/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated March 15, 2013. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2008<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2008/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 23, 2008. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2004<ref>[https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2004/2004-presidential_bergen_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 13, 2004. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,330|1,973|134|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|2,212|2,730|32|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|1,865|2,270|117|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,570|2,320|42|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,960|2,319|40|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,038|2,172|23|New Jersey}}
|}

As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,467 registered voters in Ridgefield, of which 1,810 (33.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 1,098 (20.1% vs. 21.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 2,558 (46.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-bergen-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Bergen], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 49.6% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 63.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 2,320 votes here (58.3% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 1,570 votes (39.4% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,980 ballots cast by the borough's 5,848 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207211248/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf |date=December 7, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-bergen.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207211038/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-bergen.pdf |date=December 7, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 2,319 votes here (53.0% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 1,960 votes (44.8% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 40 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,372 ballots cast by the borough's 5,853 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>[http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/smaps/2008/electionresults2008/att/North_Jersey_election_results_72.html 2008 General Election Results for Ridgefield], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]''. Accessed January 5, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 2,172 votes here (51.0% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 2,038 votes (47.8% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,262 ballots cast by the borough's 5,845 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_bergen_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref>

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 56.8% of the vote (1,410 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 41.9% (1,040 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (33 votes), among the 2,625 ballots cast by the borough's 5,586 registered voters (142 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.0%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-bergen.pdf |title=Governor - Bergen County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-bergen.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Bergen County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 1,390 ballots cast (48.0% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,281 votes (44.2% vs. 45.8%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 135 votes (4.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 18 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,898 ballots cast by the borough's 5,658 registered voters, yielding a 51.2% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-bergen.pdf 2009 Governor: Bergen County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207010131/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-bergen.pdf |date=December 7, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 15, 2013.</ref>