Bergenfield mayor seeks to unseat Bergen County executive

BERGENFIELD — Republican Mayor Norman Schmelz is running for Bergen County government’s top spot.

Schmelz announced his run for office before some 150 supporters gathered Sunday outside his childhood home on Ralph Street.

“We need these children to know that every single dollar of taxes that their parents pay actually go to government services,” he said, referring to local youths in attendance.

The announcement comes on the heels of a report that Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco settled claims with eight employees, who argued their jobs were threatened because of their support for an opposing political candidate, something Schmelz was quick to capitalize on.

“Last week in Bergen County, they settled a lawsuit paying $1 million to former employees," Schmelz said. "The lawsuit settled claims that Bergen County targeted government employees to be fired based on political affiliation.”

As of Sunday, Schmelz, 54, remained the lone candidate seeking to unseat Tedesco, who kicked off his reelection campaign last November.

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A lifelong borough resident, Schmelz has served as Bergenfield’s mayor since 2013.

Schmelz promised that, if elected county executive, he will hold down government spending, cut taxes and eliminate corruption.

Reelected Bergenfield's mayor in 2015, Schmelz works as an environmental health and safety manager for a manufacturing company in Saddle Brook. Schmelz is a member of the VFW Auxiliary and Bergenfield Elks Lodge 1477.

His sister, Norma Rose Elfers, who was in attendance, noted her brother's popularity, as evidenced by his habit of taking selfies with the public, which have come to be known as “Schmelzfies.”

“In Bergenfield, it’s a very well-known thing,” Elfers said of the selfies. “He’s always doing one. He loves the kids.”

Noting his visits to local schools, Schmelz said, “We need to have our younger generation involved, because those kids are our future.”

“We’ve gotten refreshed community spirit here in Bergenfield,” he told The Record and NorthJersey.com. “We want to refresh community spirit across the county.”

Staff Writer Richard Cowen contributed to this article. Email: kadosh@northjersey.com