Askar Mirza, a nineteen-year-old college student, won a seat on the Ridgefield Park Township Commission by two votes after all provisional and vote-by-mail ballots for the May 14 non-partisan municipal election were counted today.
He defeated incumbent Mark Olsen, 516-514.
On election night, Mizra also had a two-vote lead, 497-495.
Four incumbents won re-election: Mayor John Anlian (604) and Commissioners Adam McNeill (645), Wanda Portoreal (588), and William Gerken (585).
A sixth candidate, Theodore Tabasco, received 495 votes.
“I’m extremely grateful to my team for their diligent work in achieving this long-shot win. We took our case to the people of Ridgefield Park, and they delivered us a historic victory,” Mirza said.
Mizra is a Republican county committeeman who has worked for a GOP state senator and a Democratic assemblywoman.