PASCACK VALLEY—Only one Pascack Valley primary election — where parties choose their General Election candidates — is contested in the Pascack Valley, with some political parties putting up an incomplete slate of candidates or incumbents who will run again uncontested.
The filing deadline for local council primary elections was April 4, and the primary election will be Tuesday, June 7. The General Election will be Tuesday, Nov. 8. Only voters registered as Republicans or Democrats can vote in the June 7 primary.
In Woodcliff Lake five candidates are vying for two open seats on the Borough Council, with three Democrats and two Republicans running in the primary. With two seats open, one of the three Democrats will be eliminated in the June primary.
Competing for the Democratic nomination will be Nicole Marsh, Benjamin Pollock, and Craig Marson, a former councilman. On the Republican slate primary running uncontested will be Joshua Stern and Brian DeStefano.
The two open seats will be from Republican Steven Falanga, who served on the Finance & Audit, Parks and Recreation, Legal and Personnel, and Planning Board committees; and Democrat Angela Hayes, who served on the library and shade tree committees, and as liaison for the high school.
In Emerson, three incumbents are running again for their party’s nomination: Republican Mayor Danielle DiPaola, and councilwomen Jill McGuire and Nicole Argenzia. Their terms expire December 2022.
The three Democratic candidates, running on the Democratic Candidates for Bergen County line, include Jeanine Lamatina, running for mayor, and running mates Jose Organ and Richard Dinallo. Lamatina is the wife of former Emerson mayor Louis Lamatina.
In Park Ridge, the two open seats are being sought by two Republican and two Democratic candidates, who filed for the primary.
Incumbent Democrats Robert C. Metzdorf, council president, and councilwoman Kelly Epstein filed to run again in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, newcomer Bruce Goldsmith and incumbent councilman William R. Fenwick, are running under “Republicans For Responsible Government,” the party line.
In Westwood, two seats are up for grabs and Republican incumbents Robert Bicocchi and Council President Beth Dell are seeking the uncontested Republican nod; Democrat Lesley Whyard has filed as well.
In River Vale, two-term Mayor Glen Jasionowski, a Republican, is not running for a third term. Filing to run for mayor for the Republican ticket is councilman Mark Bromberg, who has served eight years as council president.
Also, two council seats will be open, and newcomer Republican James Tolomeo is running unopposed for Republicans, while incumbent Democratic councilwoman Denise Sieg is the lone Democrat filing to run.
In Hillsdale and Montvale the primary elections have no Democrats in the running while mostly Republican incumbents have filed for open seats.
In Montvale, incumbent Republicans Timothy E. Lane and Christopher Roche have filed for the two open terms, while Republican Theresa A. Cudequest has filed for a one-year unexpired term.
In Hillsdale, Republican councilman Frank Pizzella did not file for reelection. Republican Council President Janetta Trochimiuk and Republican newcomer Justin P. Fox filed for the two open seats.
No mayor or council seats were open in the Township of Washington.
Early voting for the June 7 Democratic and Republican Primary Election will run from June 3 to June 5, with more details to come from county election officials. Early voting for the Nov. 8 General Election runs Oct. 30–Nov. 5.
All information regarding deadlines for election-related timelines can be found online under Elections & Voting on the Bergen County Clerk’s Office website.
