DUCH • VAGIANOS • ORDWAY
Thomas J Duch is a New Jersey attorney and is currently the Chief Executive and Administrative Official of the City of Garfield. In 1980 at the age of 23, he was elected Mayor of Garfield serving two terms. During his tenure he created a new 20-acre park, which today, is still the centerpiece of recreational opportunity in that City. He also established and constructed a new childcare and development center to serve preschool students and a $9 Million, 120 unit, Senior Citizen Housing Facility, funded completely by Grants. He was responsible for the reconstruction of all major intersections and new traffic control devices funded by Grant of $3.5 Million.
In 1988 Thomas was elected to the NJ State assembly where he served two terms in Legislative District 36 and was awarded The Democratic Party Award for outstanding Legislative service. He served on several key committees including Environmental Quality where he was the Chair of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Energy and Environment Committee, and Waste Management and Recycling.
Thomas has been an honorary member, Vice-President or Chair of the following organizations: The Governing Board of St. Mary’s Hospital, New Jersey Conference of Mayors, Bergen County Democratic Mayors Association, Former President and Vice President, Saint Michael’s Cathedral Holy Name Society, Italian-American Forum of Lodi, Garfield Fire Company Number 2, The Garfield Democratic Party, Democratic County Committeeman, Passaic General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and is the former Vice President of Garfield Boys and Girls Club, Board of Trustees (Trustee for over 30 years).
Mr. Duch attended Lehigh University where he earned high honors and a BA in Government/ Public Administration with Minors in American History, International Relations and Religion Studies. He received a Doctorate of Juris Prudence from Seton Hall University. Thomas is married with four children.
Paul Vagianos is the son of a refugee who first made his way to Greece, then to the United States to find the American Dream. His father began by first working in, then establishing and owning numerous restaurants, employing hundreds of people. Paul started his first company as a teenager and quickly learned the importance of hard work. Paul maintained his business throughout college and law school. He attended Rutgers University where he graduated with a degree in Political Science and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate at Seton Hall Law School.
In 1984, Paul became a Deputy Attorney General for the Division of Gaming Enforcement, responsible for the fiscal and regulatory compliance of the Sands, Claridge and Trump Plaza casinos in Atlantic City. While there, he prosecuted a case against Trump Plaza for regulatory violations that resulted in a fine of $50,000. In 1987, he became a Deputy Attorney General for the NJ Environmental Prosecutions Task Force. Mr. Vagianos investigated and litigated environmental crimes such as illegal disposal of hazardous throughout New Jersey and medical waste at the Jersey shore. He brought suit against ExxonMobil for illegal disposal of hazardous waste at their Paulsboro, NJ refinery; the disposition of this case resulted in ExxonMobil paying significant fines to the state and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. For several years he was the general counsel to an environmental company.
In the 1996, he retired from the practice of law and opened “It’s Greek to Me” in Ridgewood. He has run this successful restaurant for over twenty years and understands the challenges and struggles of a small business. Paul can often be found welcoming guests with a smile at the door. He is the President of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce and works on behalf of over 300 local businesses to help promote and improve Ridgewood’s Central Business District.
Mr. Vagianos is also the co-founder of the organization “Backwoods” established to host events on weekends for Ridgewood High School students and educate students and parents about the dangers of binge drinking.
Paul has lived in Ridgewood for over 20 years with his wife, Jeannie, and is the proud father of two daughters.
Chris graduated from Fairfield University with a BS in accounting and earned an MBA in Finance from Pace University. She worked as an auditor for Ernst and Young to ensure that they were fiscally sound and in compliance. In addition, she has years of experience in auditing, accounting and analysis for many brand name companies such as PepsiCo, Prudential Real Estate, American Cyanamid and Quest Diagnostics. Christine later became a recruiter for financial and technology professionals. As a strong proponent of Public School Education, she chose to become a teacher for several years here in NJ; she has experienced both the rewards and challenges all of our educators face.
Chris was recently inducted as a Board member in the YWCA, an organization dedicated to empowering young women and eradicating racial injustice. She is on the New Jersey Council of the Humane Society and on the Board of Nancy’s Place (for young adults who struggle with mental illness), part of Covenant House. This year, Chris slept out at Covenant’s Newark Crisis Center with countless other Moms to raise awareness and funds for homeless youth. She is the co-secretary of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary and is very involved in the Adler Aphasia Center in Maywood. She has a wonderful husband of 33 years and 2 daughters, Katie and Victoria, whom she is very proud of.
