PASCACK VALLEY—Republicans took mayoral seats in Montvale and Woodcliff Lake, Democratic Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna held on to win a third term, and Hillsdale Democratic newcomer Michael Sheinfield appeared to eke out a mayoral victory over an incumbent Republican councilman Anthony DeRosa.
All this is according to unofficial results from the Bergen County Clerk’s Office. County elections officials were quick to advise that late-arriving mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 7, and ballots needing curing, or verification from a registered voter, may still be counted before the election is certified.
Meanwhile, a close council race for three seats in Township of Washington between two incumbent Republicans, a Republican newcomer and three independent challengers appears to have resulted in a sweep by the Independents, with Independent challengers Steven Cascio and Michael DeSena winning convincingly and Michael Ullman eking by Desserie Morgan by 15 votes, as of unofficial Nov. 8 precinct results.
County elections officials noted that mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov. 7 can be received and counted up to six days after the election. Moreover, mail-in votes can be cured or counted if correct information is supplied to the clerk’s office.
It is unclear how many ballots were being cured in the Pascack Valley’s eight towns.
Approximately 196,270 voters, or 29.5% of 665,727 registered Bergen County voters turned in mail-in ballots, voted early at one of nine countywide sites, or voted in-person at local polling stations on Nov. 7, reported election officials.
Hillsdale
In Hillsdale, Democratic newcomer Michael Sheinfield appeared to eke by Republican Council President Anthony DeRosa, who was nominated after former councilman Frank Pizzella bowed out of the race citing personal reasons.
Sheinfield garnered 1,424 votes to DeRosa’s 1,393 votes, leaving the race still uncertain as ballots yet to be counted from the last Nov. 7 drop box pickups, late-arriving mail-in ballots, and possibly cured ballots are yet to be counted for a final vote tally.
Vote totals are marked unofficial until formally certified by the county clerk’s office. The clerk’s office must certify the election to the state by Nov. 22.
Two-term mayor John Ruocco and newcomer Clemente Osso were elected to two open council seats, outpolling Democrats Steven Segalas and Meredith Kates. Ruocco and Osso grabbed 1,607 and 1,500 votes, respectively, to Segalas, 1,273 votes and Kates, 1,337 votes.
Republican councilman Zoltan Horvath, who was not selected to run by the Republican County Committee, ran as a write-in mayoral candidate. Write-in totals were not immediately available.
Montvale
In Montvale, two-term mayor Mike Ghassali overwhelmingly surpassed Democratic challenger Elizabeth Gloeggler, a former councilwoman, 1,830 votes to 745 votes.
“I am humbled with the overwhelming support from the community and I am looking forward to working with everyone for the next four years. A lot of work and challenges ahead of us, I am ready and able to begin my third term,” Ghassali told us on Nov. 8.
[Editor’s note: Montvale voters peppered us with ethics concerns after Ghassali issued a “Mayor’s Election Eve Note” campaign message from his mayoral listserv. He began the outreach, “On this day, I feel compelled as your mayor to address you directly as I see myself more of a servant, a friend and a neighbor than an elected official with a title. If this email offends you in anyway [sic], please delete it.”]
Incumbent Republican council members Douglas Arendacs (1,668 votes) and Theresa Cudequest (1,653 votes) also beat back Democratic challengers Alison Barnes (875 votes) and Daniel Galeon (825 votes).
Woodcliff Lake
In Woodcliff Lake, two-term Republican mayor Carlos Rendo overwhelmed Democratic challenger Nancy Gross 1,223 votes to 968 votes, or 56 % to 44 percent.
A filing “snafu,” in Rendo’s term, prevented his name from appearing on the primary ballot Republican party line; however, he and his running mates were able to secure a spot on the General Election ballot after receiving well over 25 legally required write-in votes in the primary.
Rendo’s running mates, Joshua Stern (1,162 votes) and Julie Brodsky (1,173 votes), also handily won two open council seats, surpassing incumbent Richard Schnoll (949 votes) and Jared Shapiro (1,026 votes). Previously, the council was all Democratic; now in 2024 it will be split with four Democrats and two Republicans.
Park Ridge
In Park Ridge, two-term Democratic mayor Keith Misciagna (1,668 votes) bested Republican challenger Liza Falato-Lau (1,306 votes).
Moreover, Misciagna’s running mates, former councilmen Robert Metzdorf (1.531 votes) and Michael Mintz (1,479 votes) also outpolled the two incumbent Republican councilmen, William Fenwick (1,470 votes) and John Cozzi (1,427 votes) for two open three-year council seats. If the vote holds, the council split would be 4-2 with Democrats in the majority.
Township of Washington
In Township of Washington, a six-way race for three seats between three Republicans (including two incumbents and a newcomer) versus three Independent challengers, including former Republican council vice president Steven Cascio, appears to have resulted in a sweep for the three Independents.
Independent Michael DeSena grabbed the largest vote total, 1,427 votes, followed by incumbent Steven Cascio (1,412 votes) and Michael Ullman (1,264 votes).
In fourth place, just 15 ballots off third place, was council president Republican Desserie Morgan (1,249 votes). Closely following her were Republicans George Toole (1,215 votes) and Stacey DeMarco-Feeney (1,163 votes).
Emerson
In Emerson, the two Republican council incumbents, Michael Timmerman (1,178 votes) and Ashley Rice (1,144 votes), retained the two open council seats. They bested challengers Julia Guttilla (933 votes) and Jose Organ (903 votes).
In Westwood, Republican Mayor Raymond Arroyo (2,216 votes) ran uncontested for mayor. In a race for two open council seats, Republican Lauren Letizia (1,687 votes) and incumbent Democrat Erin Collins (1,750 votes) secured the seats, beating back Republican Louise Cue (1,485 votes) and Democrat Lesley Whyard (1,565votes).
Public Questions: ‘No’ in Park Ridge, River Vale
Park Ridge voters turned thumbs down on a non-binding referendum question asking them to bond for $15.5 million to dredge and restore Mill Pond (Electric Lake) to improve water holding capacity and water quality. The vote was 1,582 opposed (59%) to 1,089 in favor (41%).
Over prior years, local officials, including the mayor, have repeatedly called for the pond’s dredging, and a $1.5 million capital improvement grant was likely to be used to help fund the effort.
The mayor recently cited a historical 1945 article that reported the dam’s collapse, though no officials said the current dam had structural concerns.
Misciagna said about 16 feet of sediment has accumulated in the pond and needs to be dredged. He said recently even if the public question was turned down, officials should consider options for dredging the pond, including securing grants, and dredging less than the 16 feet of accumulated sediment but still improving the pond.
In River Vale, voters turned down the school district’s effort to hire three new armed guards for local schools at an annual cost of $230,000. The vote was 1,184 against (54%) versus 1,024 votes (46%) in favor.
Approval would have added the guards’ cost to the school district annual tax levy.
