Ramon Hache was the previous mayor of Ridgewood and is now a Bergen County Commissioner. His career started in the financial sector before he reassessed his entire life and dedicated himself to service, first as a volunteer in his church and youth sports.

Ramon talks to me about why he decided to get involved with local politics, how he won his first election as an unknown outsider, and why he moved up from the village job to the county one.

We discuss the different priorities of business owners versus local residents, how those differences play out when it comes to voting and local decisions—and the current debates over hot-button issues like the municipal parking garage.