Teaneck Mayor Michael Pagan holds a narrow 200-vote lead in his bid for re-election in the non-partisan race for three seats on the Teaneck Township Council.
Voters returned two incumbents, Karen Orgen (8,417) and Mark Schwartz (8,392), to the council. Pagan leads Duane Harley, 6,611 to 6,411, with Reshma Khan (6,395) running a close fifth. Two others, Ardie Walser (5,865) and Chondra Young (3,812), were defeated.
Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki easily secured a second term as mayor, leading Councilwoman Janet Ariemma, 64%-36%, in a non-partisan race. Two incumbents, David Way (6,745) and Michelle Paz (5,673), were returned to the township council. Former Councilman George Erwin (6,545) won the third seat, easily defeating John Fessen (3,999).
In Ridgewood, incumbents Paul Vagianos (8,475) and Pamela Perron (7,254) were easily returned to their council seats in a non-partisan race. Frank Mortimer, Jr., known locally as “Frank the Beeman” because of his work as a beekeeper, won the open seat of retiring Councilwoman Lorraine Reynolds; he defeated school board member Hyunju Kwak, 6,888 to 5,758.
Republicans Ace Antonio and Robert Kaiser won re-election to the Paramus Borough Council, easily fending off a challenge from a pair of Democrats.
Oakland Republicans fended off a comeback bid by Democrat Linda Schwager, who sought a council seat one year after losing re-election as mayor. Council President Steven Saliani (4,132) will be joined by Carol Ann Rose (3,795) on the council. Rose finished about 400 votes and three percentage points ahead of Schwager.
The race for two council seats currently held by Democrats in Woodcliff Lake remains too close to call. Republican Chris Bonnano (1,815) and incumbent Jennifer Margolis (1,810) are ahead, with Republican Morgan Mazor (1,788) trailing Margolis by just 22 votes. Another Democrat, Brian Magrogan (1,597), lost. The current council is split 3-3 with GOP mayor Carlos Rendo breaking the tie. Councilwoman Jacqueline Gadaleta is not seeking re-election.
In Palisades Park, Republican Councilwoman Stephanie Jung, once a rising star and the narrow loser of a 2022 mayoral race, lost her bid for re-election to a second term. Democrats Charlie Changkyun Shin (2,436) and incumbent Sang Lee (2,442) defeated Jang (1,960); another Republican, James Donovan (1,745), ran a distant fourth.
Two Republicans were elected to Elmwood Park’s council: Council President Theresa Sheridan (4,078) was re-elected; her running mate, Eric Saimson (3,949), unseated Democratic incumbent Tanisha Dennis (3,758). Another Democrat, former Councilwoman Sandra Balistrieri (3,750), also lost..
In other races:
Bogota: Bogota Council President Consuelo Carpenter and fire lieutenant Bill Hordern, both Democrats, won seats on the city’s council. They defeated Republicans Marco Navarro and Jonathan Escalante. Unofficial results showed the Democrats leading about 28%-22%.
East Rutherford: Council President Michael Lorusso and Councilman Daniel Alvarez, both Democrats, won reelection to East Rutherford’s council. They defeated Republican Fermin Sanchez, who ran about 7 percentage points behind Alvarez. Democrat Antonio Segalini will also be joining the council — he ran unopposed for an unexpired two-year term.
Dumont: A pair of Dumont Republicans narrowly won city council seats Tuesday. Council President Tom Kelly and Gidget Petry defeated Andrew Warta and Nicola Attanasio by about 400 votes. Petry defeated the Democrats by about 2 percentage points.
Garfield: Five council seats were up for grabs in Garfield: Unofficial results show Mayor Richard “Riggs” Rigoglioso, Everett Garnto, Gaetana “Tana” Raymond, Deputy Mayor Joseph Delaney, and Kevin Kane as the five leaders. Fourteen candidates ran for the council.
Hasbrouck Heights: Chris Blum will be joining Bobby Bing on Hasbrouck Heights’ council. The pair of Republicans beat Democrats Kim Sealy and Mary Blanusa by a margin of about 28%-22%.
Oradell: Oradell residents elected a Democrat and a Republican to the council Tuesday. The Democrat, incumbent Roger Tashjian, won with Republican Tom Kelly, a former Oradell councilman. Democrat Kimberly Kyasky finished less than 100 votes behind Tashjian, and Republican Ori Katzin finished about 300 votes behind the field.
Rutherford: Rutherford Councilman Raymond Guzmán and John Errico, both Democrats, secured election to the city’s council. They finished about 1,000 votes, or 6 percentage points, ahead of their Republican rivals.