Editing Ridgefield Park, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
[[File:Ridgefield Park New Jersey Municipal Building.jpg|thumb|right|Municipal building in Ridgefield Park on Main Street]]
Ridgefield Park has been governed under the [[Walsh Act]] since 1912.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150605155532/http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF "The Commission Form of Municipal Government"], p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 8. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The village is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide to use the [[City commission government|commission form of government]],<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> down from a peak of 60 early in the 20th century; Ridgefield Park is one of six Walsh Act municipalities in [[North Jersey]] and most are in shore communities.<ref>Proctor, Owen; and Sobko, Katie. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/nutley/2018/04/30/town-commissions-have-become-nj-rarity-new-jersey/554873002/ "Town commissions have become a New Jersey rarity"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', April 30, 2018, updated May 6, 2018. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Commissions rose in popularity, up to 60 statewide in the early part of the last century, from large cities and older suburbs to seaside resorts.... Today, only about 30 of New Jersey's 565 municipalities are commissions, including six in North Jersey. There are North Bergen, Union City and West New York in Hudson County, Lyndhurst and Ridgefield Park in Bergen County, and Nutley in Essex County."</ref> The Board of Commissioners is comprised of five members, who are elected [[at-large]] on a [[Non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] basis to serve four-year terms on a concurrent basis. The commissioners elect one commissioner as mayor, however the mayor is only responsible for his or her departments and serves as the chair of the commission.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 157.</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the members of the Ridgefield Park Board of Commissioners are 
Mayor Adam A. MacNeill (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), 
William G. Gerken (Commissioner of Public Affairs), 
John H. Anlian (Commissioner of Public Safety),
Wanda C. Portorreal (Commissioner of Public Works) and 
Askar H. Mirza (Commissioner of Parks and Public Property), all serving concurrent terms of office ending on May 23, 2028.<ref name="Commissioners">{{Cite web |title=Board of Commissioners {{!}} Village of Ridgefield Park NJ |url=https://www.ridgefieldpark.org/board-commissioners |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.ridgefieldpark.org}}</ref><ref>[https://www.ridgefieldpark.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif1121/f/agendas/2024-05-28_comm_reorg_agenda_res_2024-89_thru_106.pdf Commissioners Reorganization Meeting Agenda, May 28th 2024]</ref>

In the election held on May 14, 2024, 19-year-old college student Askar Mirza defeated incumbent commissioner Mark Olson by a 2-vote margin, becoming the youngest commissioner ever elected in the village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wildstein |first=David |date=2024-05-21 |title=Askar Mirza, 19, ousts Ridgefield Park incumbent by two votes |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/askar-mirza-19-ousts-ridgefield-park-incumbent-by-two-votes/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=New Jersey Globe |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wildstein |first=David |date=2024-05-15 |title=In Ridgefield Park, a 19-year-old leads an incumbent by two votes |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/in-ridgefield-park-a-19-year-old-leads-an-incumbent-by-two-votes/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=New Jersey Globe |language=en-US}}</ref>

In June 2017, Theresa Kohles was appointed to fill the commissioner seat that became vacant following the resignation of Maggie Boyd.<ref>[https://www.ridgefieldpark.org/sites/ridgefieldparknj/files/uploads/villagev34n2june17.pdf "Message from the Board of Commissioners"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006174425/https://www.ridgefieldpark.org/sites/ridgefieldparknj/files/uploads/villagev34n2june17.pdf |date=October 6, 2019 }}, ''Village Newsletter'', June 2017. Accessed October 6, 2019. "We welcome to the Board of Commissioners Theresa Kohles who was selected to fill the vacany created by the resignation of Commissioner Boyd.... An accountant in her own business, Commissioner Kohles brings a fresh voice to the Board and will serve as Commissioner of Parks, Property and Buildings and as liaison to the Rescue Squad."</ref> In the 2017 November general election, Kohles was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Bergen2017>[http://bergencountyclerk.alphadogtest.com/_Content/pdf/elections/2017-Official-General-Election-Results.pdf Bergen County November 7, 2017 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 15, 2017. Accessed March 18, 2018.</ref>

===Federal, state, and county representation===
Ridgefield Park is located in the 5th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>[https://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/documents/2021/Data2021/Plan%20Components.pdf 2022 Redistricting Plan], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 37th state legislative district.<ref>[https://nj1015.com/whats-your-new-nj-legislative-district-20-moved-on-new-map/ Districts by Number for 2023-2031], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 05}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 37}}

{{NJ Bergen County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
{{PresHead|place=Ridgefield Park|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|Democratic|2,502|3,033|139|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|2,115|4,029|72|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|1,842|3,359|166|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,508|3,162|45|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,932|3,256|47|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,104|2,681|31|New Jersey}}
|}

As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,593 registered voters in Ridgefield Park, of which 2,249 (34.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 957 (14.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 3,382 (51.3% vs. 47.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 5 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<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 14, 2013.</ref> Among the village's 2010 Census population, 51.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 66.4% 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 &ndash; 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 14, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 3,162 votes here (66.3% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 1,508 votes (31.6% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 45 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,768 ballots cast by the village's 7,035 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.8% (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 14, 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 14, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 3,256 votes here (61.6% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 1,932 votes (36.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 47 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,288 ballots cast by the village's 6,980 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.8% (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 14, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>[http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/smaps/2008/electionresults2008/att/North_Jersey_election_results_73.html 2008 General Election Results for Ridgefield Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215061159/http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/smaps/2008/electionresults2008/att/North_Jersey_election_results_73.html |date=December 15, 2013 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]''. Accessed January 29, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 2,681 votes here (55.4% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 2,104 votes (43.5% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 31 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,835 ballots cast by the village's 6,575 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.5% (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 14, 2013.</ref>

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 55.6% of the vote (1,473 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 43.0% (1,138 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (36 votes), among the 2,686 ballots cast by the village's 6,694 registered voters (39 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.1%.<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 1,657 ballots cast (53.7% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,223 votes (39.6% vs. 45.8%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 166 votes (5.4% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 11 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 3,085 ballots cast by the village's 6,753 registered voters, yielding a 45.7% 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 14, 2013.</ref>