John Hipp, a lawyer who rode the anti-tax, anti-EnCap wave to crush two term mayor and Bergen County Freeholder Bernadette McPherson, was sworn in as mayor of Rutherford today at Town Hall.
Also sworn in were two new Republican council members: Rose Inguanti and John Sasso, boosting the Republican presence on the council to three and tying it 3-3 with Democrats.
“We have an obligation that we’ve voluntarily undertaken to work for the benefit and welfare of the community, and we’re not going to disappoint them,” said Hipp, who was sworn in by Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz.
McPherson attended the inauguration, cordially interacting with Hipp and the incoming council members. Hipp and the new council, in turn, presented the traditional service awards to McPherson and outgoing Democratic councilmen Ray Frazier and Richard Reyes, while McPherson handed over the keys to the mayors office to Hipp and gave him a quick tour.
Bergen County Republicans have claimed that Rutherford represents an important victory – that it shows the beginning of an erosion of complete Democratic domination, which is aided by the significance of Rutherford as one of the first towns Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero turned blue in the late 1990s.
“It’s a partisan town as most municipalities in New Jersey are, and we do have a role to play in the resurgence of Republican politics in Bergen County,” said Hipp, who was a Democrat until 2005. “Are we the Rosetta Stone or whatever it is? No. Do we decide the fate and future of Republican politics? No. But we do play a role.”
First and foremost, Hipp said he would make his top priority getting the budget under control, and wants to hire professionals for less money than pervious ones. He’s already found an insurance commissioner, Peter Van Winkle, who will work for an annual salary of one dollar.
Also of great importance, Hipp said, is dealing with the controversial Encap development by changing the town’s agreement with the developer and rescinding its tax breaks.
“We will do all that is in our power to end Encap and see to it that the contaminated landfills are properly closed so as to no longer threaten the safety and health of our environment,” said Hipp in his inaugural speech.
Hipp also said that he’s calling for a citizen’s finance advisory committee and will schedule evenings for members of the public to meet with the mayor.
