Byram resident throws hat into freeholder race

BYRAM - A little bit of outdoor living, that’s all Dave Lipari wanted when he decided to move his family from Bergen County to Byram two years ago. Now the former Leonia resident wants to inject a little bit of fresh air into the Democratic Party. Lipari, and Joseph Maikish, of Hampton were introduced as the party’s candidates to run for the vacant two seats on the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in the November election against Republican incumbents Glen Vetrano, of Wantage, and Susan Zellman, of Stanhope. “We wanted people that are new with fresh ideas and are representative of the new people moving into the county,” said Howard Burrell, chairman of the Sussex County Democratic Party. “In both Washington, D.C. and Sussex County, the voters are disappointed with the results, disillusioned with the insensitivity and dismayed at the arrogance that is being displayed by the closed-minded, out-of-touch group that has used its complete control of our national and county level government processes to benefit their own political agenda rather than to benefit the nation’s and the county’s citizens.” Lipari, who had no political affiliation up until last week, stumbled upon the county Democratic Party like a new resident running into a neighbor, when he came across Burrell. “He (Burrell) was interviewing me, but I was really interviewing him as well - and I liked what he had to say,” said Lipari, who practices commercial litigation with a Jersey City law firm. Lipari, 42, the father of two young girls in the Byram schools system, formerly served on the Zoning Board of Adjustments in Leonia, and is the vice president of the Lenape Valley Arrows, a 225-member youth football and cheerleading organization. “I worked in construction while attending college and law school at night while supporting a family,” said Lipari, whose mailing address lists Sparta. “I believe that the prospect of the hard-working, commuting Sussex County family is completely lacking from that small, one-party group that currently has exclusive control of our county’s government.” The freeholders are comprised of four Republicans in the heavily saturated GOP political landscape that makes up Sussex County, where Burrell and party leaders have painstakingly struggled to stake their claim. Lipari and Maikish will be the first candidates to run for freeholder seats on the Democratic ticket since 2003, when Burrell was a member of the board. “It’s a win-win situation,” said Lipari. “The election is all about choices; a diversity of viewpoints that will bring out the best in all parties involved. It will allow for a debate on the issues and the citizens will make a decision. At least they will have a choice.” Maikish, an executive with Operation for Home Delivery America, is also the father of two young children. The former small business owner has earned several specialized technical degrees and licenses. “I understand the balance that’s needed between business development and local job creation and the equally important need for us to maintain the environmental beauty of our county,” said Maikish, who is active as a coach with the Hampton youth soccer league. “If the one-party group that currently has exclusive control of our county’s government has any creative ideas in this area, neither I nor the majority of Sussex County residents have seen any evidence of it.” Burrell said the election would be not about Republicans nor Democrats, but a chance for voters to be exposed to new ideas and alternatives. He’s the first to admit, though, that his upstart party continues to face an uphill challenge in Sussex County. “We have to start somewhere,” he said. “There’s no glory in falling down. The only glory is in getting up each time you’re knocked down.”