Wildes and Weinberg squabble over the word 'grungy,' automobile preference

The county committee races in legislative district 37 led to a war of words today between Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes and state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, which even led to an argument about what kind of car each of them drives.

In response to Wildes’s claim that the Real Bergen Democrats have dispatched more than a dozen out-of-state canvassers who appear “grungy,” state Sen. Loretta Weinberg said that grunginess is in the eye of the beholder.

“I happen to think (Wildes) grungy, and it has nothing to do with his appearance,” said Weinberg. “It has to do with his political affiliations.”

Wildes is a consistent foe of Weinberg, and last year aborted a primary challenge against her after she brokered a peace with Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero. That agreement broke down six months after it was made, however, and the county committee fights in Englewood, Bergenfield and Teaneck are the feud’s latest manifestations.

Weinberg said that the canvassers come from a professional organization that the Real Bergen Democrats hired, and that some are from out of state but some are from New Jersey as well.

“It’s the same thing as the high school students who have been hired year after year after year by the BCDO and paid a paltry sum to go out and put literature on peoples’ doors,” said Weinberg.

Weinberg went on to cite a recent Bergen Record story about Wildes’s appointment of political donors to Englewood’s planning board, who in turn approved projects proposed by other Wildes donors.

“If Mr. Wildes, rather than addressing the conflicts of interest about his planning board appointments that were covered extensively in The Record, he should address that more than following canvassers around in his big black Cadillac."

Wildes took offense at Weinberg's characterization of him, saying that the canvassers were telling voters that he was about to be indicted.

"If Senator Weinberg is looking for transparency, she need not look further than her own actions," he said. "She's attempting to bolster a weak organization by bringing in out of state individuals who are claiming that I'm going to be indicted."

Wildes even pointed out that Weinberg drives a Toyota Avalon, which is he said is just as fancy as his car.

"As to the Senator's cheap shots at my vehicle, it should be noted that the Senator drives an expensive Japanese import that retails for the same as my Cadillac," he said. "It's an odd position to sit on as a pro-union labor representative."