Fasolo wins Elmwood Park council seat

Francesco Fasolo, a 26-year-old high school history teacher, won a seat on the Elmwood Park Borough Council tonight, filling the seat vacated when Dan Golabek became mayor.

Golabek replaced Mayor Francesco Caramagna, who resigned last month after being charged with ballot tampering by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office.

Fasolo was one of three names submitted by the local Democratic organization – still chaired by Caramagna — to fill the vacancy.  The other names were relatives of the former mayor: his wife, Vittoria Caramagna, and his son-in-law, Riccardo Patane.

The vote was 5-0 for Fasolo.

It’s not immediately clear whether Fasolo will secure a place on the ballot for a full-term in the fall.

Caramagna was unopposed in the Democratic primary and while he is expected to drop out, the former mayor is known to take an alternative path from time to time.

If he does exit the race, Democrats could pick Golabek or Councilman Joseph Dombrowski – or someone else – to run in the general against Republican Robert Colletti, a former mayor.   Dombrowski has said he would run if there is an opportunity to do so.

Both Golabek and Dombrowski are on the ballot this year for re-election to the council.  If one of them switches races, it could pave the way for Fasolo to run.