Signorino, Wagner announce bids for mayor

WEST MILFORD — Two more Republicans have entered the mayoral race - Councilman Luciano “Lou” Signorino and local businessman Tim Wagner.

Two-term Councilman and former Council President Signorino announced this week his intention to run for mayor of West Milford in the June 2 Republican Primary. He will be running with Councilman Michael Hensley and Peter McGuinness for the two council seats available.

Wagner, the general manager of the Greenwood Lake Airport, announced his candidacy last week after going before the local Republican organization vetting committee. He hopes to get the committee’s endorsement.

Shut out
Signorino, Hensley and McGuinness are not going through the local Republican committee and will be on the ballot for the primary in June for the Republican party’s nomination. Signorino said it wasn’t for lack of trying. He said the three men went to the Republican County Committee meeting last Thursday but were turned away with their letters of intent by Chairman Dan Jurkovic for not meeting a deadline.

“I never got a notification,” said Signorino.

Jurkovic, a former councilman himself, said there is a process the committee goes through when selecting its candidates. Letters of intent are due into the committee at least 75 days prior to the petition filing deadline, which is March 30 this year. The deadline for letters of intent was Jan. 14, eight days before the committee meeting. The process is in the committee’s bylaws, he said. It is something Jurkovic put into place since becoming chairman three years ago. The vetting committee interviews all who have sent letters of intent, then writes a report with its candidate recommendations to all county committee members at least 14 days before a formal vote and endorsement is given.

Jurkovic said the committee received three letters of intent for mayor and two for council. Former councilman and current vice chairman of the Republican committee Mike Ramaglia and Wagner have announced their intentions to seek the nomination for mayor. Councilwoman Vivienne Erk is seeking reelection to the council. The other potential candidates have not made formal announcements.

Wagner announces his bid
Wagner, 45, said after much “speculation, discussion and encouragement,” he is making his bid to become West Milford mayor official.

Wagner and his wife, Daina, have been residents of West Milford for 20 years. They have two children, Tyler, 15, and Ashley, 13. He said his extensive business background lends to his qualifications.

Wagner is in the 10th year of a 20-year contract managing the Greenwood Lake Airport, home for the past six years of the Greenwood Lake Airport Air Show, which he instituted.

Wagner has been the vice chairman of the Environmental Development Committee, a West Milford Chamber of Commerce member, a New Jersey Highlands Coalition member and current chairman of the Highlands Economic Development and Tourism Corp (HEAT), a private group that looks to increase economic opportunities in West Milford.

“The interview process couldn’t have gone better as the members on the committee are already well aware of my qualifications,” said Wagner after going before the vetting committee.

He said he plans to tackle high taxes in the township.

“We all feel the burden of high taxes, especially post revaluation, and just getting trash collection for all that we pay is not getting our money’s worth,” said Wagner. He said he wants to work to either reduce the tax rate or to help residents get more benefits from the town.

He also wants to work closely with school administrators and the local police to help end drug use in town.

To find out more about Wagner’s candidacy, go to www.facebok.com/WagnerForMayor.

The Republican challengers
Signorino, 39, is the father of three and has lived in West Milford for 12 years. He owns a local construction business and has been council liaison to the Planning Board, Cablevision Committee, Insurance Committee, and Heritage Committee, among others.

Hensley, 40, is a lifelong resident of West Milford and is finishing his first term on the council. He served as council liaison to the Economic Development Commission, Recreation Advisory Committee, and Library Board.

McGuinness, 48, has lived in West Milford for more than 20 years. The widower of Valerie McGuinness and father of Arianna, Mackenzie, and Seamus, he owns a small business in the finance industry and is an active volunteer in youth athletic programs in town. McGuinness ran unsuccessfully last year for council as an independent.

“I have decided to run for mayor in the Republican Primary in order to give the people of West Milford another choice,” said Signorino. “I'm proud to run on my two-term record of fiscal responsibility and proven results, backed by a perpetual willingness to stand up against the powers that be when that’s what is needed to help our community.”

Hensley said the voters will ultimately decide.

“It is unfortunate that the chairman and vice chairman would deliberately prevent a sitting councilman from being considered by the whole committee, whose members are elected directly by the people,” said Hensley in a release. “I disagree with their decision, but I will let the Republican voters decide who should get the nomination to run in the general election.”

“Lou Signorino, Mike Hensley, and myself will be running in the primary to let the Republican voters of West Milford decide who they think is the best choice to represent them on the ballot in November,” said McGuinness.

Signorino said he was urged to run to give Republicans another choice.

“From the moment Ramaglia’s candidacy was announced, I have been inundated with phone calls from Republicans asking me what we can do to prevent a return to the failed policies and bullying tactics of the past,” Signorino said. “To all those Republicans I would say, ‘You now have a choice on June 2’.”

What's next
The West Milford Republican County Committee will give its endorsement to the candidates who will run on the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization line in the primary. Those candidates will face off with Signorino, Hensley and McGuinness for the Republican nomination on June 2. And there still may be more candidates in the primary.

The primary winners will face the Democrats in November. Mayor Bettina Bieri has announced she will seek a third term as mayor. Former Councilwoman CarlLa Horton will also run for council. No formal announcement has been made by the Democrats on their other council candidate.