John Mitchell, ex-Bergen freeholder, dies at 76

John D. Mitchell, a Republican who served on the Bergen County Board of Freeholders, died on Saturday morning.  He was 76.

“We are heartbroken to share that our dad, John Mitchell, passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning,” his children said in a statement.

Mitchell was elected in 2010 as part of a Republican wave that ousted a Democratic county executive, sheriff, and three freeholders.  Mitchell was the top vote-getter among the three freeholder candidates, running about 12,000 votes ahead of two of the Democratic incumbents.

Despite Republican Gov. Chris Christie winning Bergen County with over 60% of the vote in 2013, Mitchell was narrowly ousted.  Two of his running mates, Maura DeNicola and John Felice, won second terms, but Paramus Mayor James Tedesco, now the Bergen County Executive, outpolled Mitchell by 289 votes out of more than 200,000 cast; Felice captured the third seat by just 68 votes over Mitchell.

He ran again in 2015, but lost to Democratic incumbents Steven Tanelli and Tracy Silna Zur by over 12,000 votes.

Mitchell entered the 2010 race at the end of August after one of the GOP candidates, Rochelle Park Mayor Frank Valenzuela, dropped out after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“John Mitchell was one of the truly good ones,” said State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale).  “Before, during and after his political life, he had a constant focus of giving back, helping those most in need and volunteering his time and energy, always with a smile.”

A retired government affairs executive at Con Edison, he had run for local office in Cliffside Park five times without success.

Lavallette Councilman Robert Lamb died on Friday.  He was the father of Toms River Councilman Justin Lamb.