PASCACK VALLEY—The top three Pascack Valley communities in terms of voting percentage on Nov. 7 were Woodcliff Lake, Park Ridge and the Township of Washington—all topping more than 40% voter turnout, according to the Bergen County Clerk’s office.
Countywide, clerk John Hogan’s office reported that 199,614 voters out of 665,727 registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 7 election, a 29.98% voter turnout in Bergen County.
Six days after elections, Nov. 13, was the last date for mail-in ballots postmarked Nov. 7 to arrive and be counted for the General Election results. Once mail-in votes were counted, elections officials would then vet and count provisional votes, if valid and if the registered voter had not yet voted, said officials.
Woodcliff Lake
Unofficial voter percentages published online, minus the final mail-in and provisional ballots, showed that Woodcliff Lake, where incumbent mayor Carlos Rendo swept to victory, bringing along running mates Joshua Stern and Julie Brodsky, 2,250 voters cast ballots out of 5,017 registered voters, for a 44.85% percentage— highest in Pascack Valley.
While Woodcliff Lake had the highest Pascack Valley turnout, the borough also had the lowest number of registered voters.
Park Ridge
Placing second in voter balloting was Park Ridge with a nearly 42% turnout, or 3,051 votes cast out of 7,279 registered voters, or a 41.92% total.
Two-term mayor Keith Misciagna topped challenger Lisa Falato-Lau by nearly 350 votes, and brought along two former Democratic councilmen, Robert Metzdorf and Michael Mintz, on his ticket.
Township of Washington
Placing third with a 40.53% voter turnout, and edging another town, was the Township of Washington, where a tight six-person council race for three open seats brought out voters. In the township, 3,118 voters cast ballots out of 7,694 registered voters.
In a surprise in Township of Washington, the three-person slate of Independent candidates, led by incumbent Republican councilman Steven Cascio, with former councilmen Michael DeSena and Michael Ullman, edged by incumbent Republican Council President Desserie Morgan, and incumbent councilwoman Stacey Feeney and challenger George Toole.
Westwood
A tight council race in Westwood brought out 40.2% of voters, or 3,415 of 8,494 total registered voters. Incumbent Democratic councilwoman Erin Collins and Republican borough booster Lauren Letezia won the two open seats pulling in 1,788 and 1,711 votes, respectively.
Emerson
In Emerson, with 5,707 registered voters, 2,165 voters went to the polls Nov. 7, for a 37.94% voter turnout with four candidates vying for two open council seats. Incumbent Republican councilmen Michael Timmerman and Ashley Rice nabbed the two open seats with 1,187 votes, and 1,151 votes, respectively.
Montvale
In Montvale, where two-term Mayor Michael Ghassali shook his challenger, Elizabeth Gloeggler, by more than 2 to 1, and Republican incumbent council members Douglas Arendacs and Theresa Cudequest doubled the vote totals of their challengers, nearly 37% of local voters cast ballots in the election.
In Montvale, 2,618 voters out of 7,101 registered voters, or 36.87%, cast ballots, whether by mail, early voting, or in person on Nov. 7.
Hillsdale
In last place for council voter turnout, with a little over 35% of Hillsdale voters casting ballots, Democrat Michael Sheinfield eked by incumbent Republican councilman Anthony DeRosa to become the next mayor, and will lead a council of six Republican members. On Nov. 13, Sheinfield led DeRosa 1,471 to 1,405 votes, respectively.
Incumbent mayor John Ruocco, a former councilman, and newcomer Clemente Osso snagged the council seats. In total, 3,015 voters cast ballots of 8,598 registered voters, a 35.07% turnout.
River Vale
Although River Vale did not have a council race this year, 2,923 of 8,616 registered voters, or 33.93%, showed up to vote on federal, state, county, and school board, plus a public question.
