MONTVALE, N.J.—On New Year’s Day, Montvale saw Republican Mayor Michael Ghassali sworn in to begin a second term, starting a year in which Ghassali’s attention is focused on an upcoming 2020 election: possibly taking on U.S. Congressman Democrat Josh Gottheimer for his Fifth District seat.
Ghassali’s reelection bid as mayor was unopposed; still he garnered the highest local vote total with 1,434 votes.
His only opposition appeared to be 20 “personal choice” votes cast for a few write-in candidates.
Ghassali announced his congressional candidacy July 1, 2019, and told Pascack Press then that he brings qualities to the race that no other candidate can offer, including his perspective as a Syrian-American.
He faces a growing field of Republican hopefuls vying in the June primary to become the Republican candidate for the Fifth District seat.
He said earlier he could use his background, knowledge, and worldview to help act against “against hate and hatred, as well as help towns to reduce taxes.”
Ghassali cited his tenure as mayor in helping steer the community through rough periods—including a years-long battle to settle its affordable housing obligations in late 2017 and a stable municipal tax rate. Ghassali garnered 1,243 votes Election Day.
His campaign was recently bolstered by the National Republican Congressional Committee’s announcement that it accepted him into its “Young Guns” program.
The NRCC said Ghassali, along with 23 Republican candidates in 16 states, have the “necessary tools to run successful, winning campaigns.”
Also sworn in Jan. 1 were Republican incumbent Councilman Timothy E. Lane, who won a fifth term with 999 votes, and Lane’s running mate, Christopher A. Roche, who tallied 952 votes. Democratic incumbent councilwoman Elizabeth Gloeggler lost her seat with 836 votes.