Republican Anthony Dellapia has ousted a Democratic incumbent in the race for mayor of Washington Township, Gloucester County’s largest municipality.
Dellapia, the council president, leads Mayor Laurie Burns by 2,347 votes, 54%-46%.
Burns became mayor after Joann Gattinelli won a race for Gloucester County Commissioner.
Republicans held on to their 5-0 council majority. Newcomer Joseph Harris (14,548) and incumbent Richard Bennett (14,503) defeated Democrats Paul Esposito (12,426) and David Tomczak (12,174). Harris will replace Dellapia, who gave up his seat to run for mayor.
In Greenwich Township, Democrat Lee Campbell (1,553) and Republican incumbent Wanda Tranquilllo (1,471) lead Democrat Lani Cole (1,307) and Republican Leigh Garrison (1,256). Another Republican, Bryan Nastase, did not seek re-election.
Republicans flipped the mayoralty in Woodbury Heights, where Matthew Cosenza defeated Cara Witasick, a councilwoman, by 135 votes, 54%0-46%, in a special election for an unexpired term. The GOP also turned two council seats with the ouster of Democratic incumbents Joseph Getsinger and Christi Davis.
The race for two council seats in Pitman is too close to call: Republican Sarah Musto (2,614) and Democrat Debra Guarini (2,573) lead Republican incumbent Paul Bially (2,531) and Democrat Christopher Morozin (2,430). This is a possible pickup for Democrats; Republican Courtney Milward didn’t run again.
Gloucester County GOP Chairman Adam Wingate returned to the Harrison Township Committee without opposition after runs for Gloucester County Commissioner in 2022 and 2023. In all-Democratic logan, Edward Durr III, the son of former State Sen. and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed “The Trucker” Durr, lost bid for a council seat by 447 votes (57%-43%) to Democrat Bernadine Jackson.
Democrats won three of four seats in Monroe Township. Republican John Valentine (2,632) leads Democrat Linda Wagner DeSantis (2,547) in Ward 4.
Democrats scored local victories in Clayton, Glassboro, Mantua, National Park, West Deptford and Woodbury. Republicans won in Elk, Franklin, South Harrison and Woolwich.
A fusion ticket won in Newfield, with one Democrat and one Republican running unopposed. The same deal existed in Swedesboro.