Mahwah Council President Rob Hermansen says he came home to a flooded basement Saturday night — and he blames the township's ongoing political fighting for it. Watch video
Mahwah Council President Rob Hermansen says he came home to a flooded basement Saturday night — and he blames the township’s ongoing political fighting for it.
Hermansen said he arrived home at about 12:45a.m. Sunday and found water covering the floor in part of his basement. He thought it was from a broken hose spout.
But in the light of day, he said during a press conference at Town Hall Tuesday, he realized someone had intentionally buried the end of his garden hose in the ground next to the foundation of his house and turned the water on “full blast,” causing it to leak into his house.
He called police, an officer came out and took a report, Hermansen said.
Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli could not be reached immediately for comment.
“This wasn’t a kid,” Hermansen said. “This was someone who legitimately knew what they were doing. And they made sure they came at a time that they felt we were going to be in bed.”
Hermansen said he estimates that someone turned the water on between 11:45 p.m. and midnight. He arrived home about an hour later and discovered the mess.
“This was absolutely me targeted, council president, my family, because of some of the things I’ve said in the past,” Hermansen said.
Asked who he thinks is targeting him, Hermansen said, “I have an idea … but I think if I say publicly right now what I truly believe in this moment without having more information that someone is going to tell me that I’m just doing this because of a disagreement between individuals.”
Later, Hermansen got closer to pointing the finger at Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet, with whom Hermansen has publicly butted heads many times.
“I got a pretty good idea that if it’s not potentially him, that it’s someone who is very close to him that is looking to try to get me out of the way or move me on,” Hermansen said.
The council president grew emotional when discussing a “very difficult” conversation he had with his family after the incident.
Reached by phone, Laforet said he was unaware of the vandalism at Hermansen’s home. “This is the first I’m hearing of it,” he said.
The council president said he plans to seek reelection this November — and that a council seat is the only office he intends to run for.
Laforet, meanwhile, is the subject of a recall campaign. If the signatures submitted to the Township Clerk last week are verified there would be a question on the November ballot asking if Laforet should finish out his term, which ends in 2020. Mayoral candidates would also be on the ballot to replace Laforet in case the recall is successful.
Mahwah is no stranger to political infighting. Over the past several years, there have been squabbles over recycling, a mobile phone app, police overtime pay, and a former DPW director’s suspension. Fights between local politicians have included a game of hot potato over blame for a parks ban that drew ire from the Attorney General, and a former councilwoman flipping the mayor a double bird during a public meeting.
Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2018/07/councilman_says_his_home_was_vandalized_blames_pol.html