PASCACK VALLEY—Several Pascack Valley towns offer contested council races for the Nov. 2 General Election. The Township of Washington features the only mayoral challenge, and a call has arisen there for a televised debate.
Meanwhile, Pascack Press is featuring candidate profiles, highlighting local issues, and running letters of support for candidates running on Nov. 2 throughout Pascack Valley.
The township race features incumbent first-term Republican mayor Peter Calamari running with recently returned Councilman Tom Sears and the town’s public affairs department head, Daisy Velez. They’re campaigning as “the right choice for a bright future.”
Challenging for mayor is independent councilman Michael DeSena, a civil engineer, flanked by Michael J. Werfel, a financial advisor, and Kevin P. Zitko, the town’s volunteer fire chief, under the campaign banner “Township residents first.”
We’ll bring you a closer look at this contest with our pending election guide.
The other towns with contested council races are Emerson, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake.
In Emerson, the council race features two open seats being contested by Democratic challengers Michael DeOrio and Kate Stutzel opposing incumbent Republican councilman Brian Gordon.
Don Pierro was sworn in to office at the Sept. 7 meeting of the mayor and council. The Republican replaces former councilman Carl Carbo, who stepped down recently after seven months on the dais. (Carbo left citing his family’s imminent move from the borough, and was thanked for his service.)
Mayor Danielle DiPaola said Pierro, a construction estimator who was on the Land Use Board, will serve on council until the certification of the Nov. 2 election and run in this year’s election for the remainder of the term.
In Westwood, two open seats are contested by incumbent Democratic councilwoman Jodi Murphy and incumbent Republican Cheryl Hodges. Their running mates include Democratic newcomer Benmari Roig and Republican newcomer Anthony Greco.
In Woodcliff Lake, Borough Council seats are sought by incumbent Democrat Jacqueline Gadaleta and newcomer Jennifer Margolis. Republicans challenging are Michael Casale and Dianna Cereijo.
In the valley’s only contested primary June 8, Woodcliff Lake Democrats Gadaleta and Margolis opposed Democratic incumbent councilman Craig Marson and newcomer Veronica Appelle, following a last-minute decision by Gadaleta to select Margolis as her running mate.
The local Democratic committee split its endorsement of the two incumbent slates. Gadaleta and Margolis defeated Marson and Appelle in the June primary.
In Park Ridge, two incumbent Democratic council members, Matthew J. Capilli and John A Ferguson, run uncontested for the two open seats on Nov. 2.
In Hillsdale, two open council seats are uncontested, with incumbent Republicans Abby Lundy, council president, and councilman John Escobar running unopposed.
In Montvale, Democratic newcomer Steven A. Frischer alone opposes two incumbent Republicans, councilwoman Ann Marie Russo-Vogelsang and Dieter Koeling.
River Vale has no contest this season.
Early voting
In a first, this year Bergen County offers convenient early voting in eight of its towns, including River Vale and Woodcliff Lake, open to all registered voters. Early voting runs Saturday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 31.
