Bergen Grassroots Endorses Candidates, Backs Minimum Wage Increase

Teaneck-based citizen activist group Bergen Grassroots has endorsed two of the six candidates vying for the county freeholder board and announced its support for increasing the state’s minimum wage.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the group said it would back incumbent Republican Freeholder Maura DeNicola and Democratic candidate Lorraine Waldes.

“Since joining the Freeholder Board, Maura DeNicola has consistently fought and voted for county legislation that will help ensure political contributions play no role in the selection of public contractors in Bergen County and for more open Board discussion of how those county rules are decided,” the group’s steering committee said in the statement. “She was singular in her support of those positions in 2013, clearly distinguishing herself from the positions of her Republican running mates in this election.”

Bergen Grassroots has campaigned for stronger pay-to-play rules, the statement noted.

In endorsing Waldes, the group said she expressed support for strengthening the “weakened pay-to-pay ordinance” passed by freeholders in spring 2013.

“We believe that as a local school board president, she would bring not only important experience but a fresh and new perspective to what will continue to be the Democratic majority that will, after November 5, control the Freeholder Board in any event,” the group said, pointing to her experience on the River Vale Board of Education.