TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The local ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 4 features a three-way mayoral race and two Township Council seats sought by incumbent Republicans Tom Sears and Daisy Velez and Independent Desserie Morgan, a former Republican who previously served as council president.
Council President Michael DeSena (Independent), whose term runs to December 2027, and Democrat Meghan Stamatopoulos are challenging two-term Republican Mayor Peter Calamari for the gavel.
In 2021, Calamari defeated DeSena by 49 votes—1,846 to 1,797—after provisional ballots were counted, one of the closest mayoral contests in township history. Turnout was 52.2% (4,094 ballots cast of 7,841 registered voters). Since then, DeSena and Calamari have publicly disagreed on several issues, including the swim club purchase and cleanup, budget priorities, and land use.
Six of eight Pascack Valley towns have contested local races this fall. Montvale’s council race is uncontested, and River Vale has no local seats on the ballot.
Editor’s note: Candidate responses were gathered via email and were edited for AP Style and length.
Candidate bios (as provided)
- Peter Calamari (incumbent mayor)— IT consultant; lifelong resident; two-term mayor and former councilman; volunteer on community committees; Eucharistic minister and usher at OLGC.
- Meghan Stamatopoulos is a lifelong community member, parent, homeowner, and nature enthusiast. She works in Human Resources, is a licensed loan officer, and holds a B.S. in accounting and an A.A. in technical theater. “I believe nothing is impossible, especially when we work together.”
- Tom Sears — Retired (Verizon Communications); 48-year resident; nine-year councilman; volunteer firefighter; VFW commander; Little League coach; Green Team coordinator; Public Affairs volunteer.
- Daisy Velez — High school history teacher; 11-year resident; councilwoman; former town Public Affairs director; board member, BCWRC; member, Health Advisory Board; Green Team and Public Affairs volunteer.
- Michael DeSena — 25-year resident; married, two sons; two-term councilman; former Zoning Board chair and member; senior civil engineer, Passaic Valley Water Commission; adjunct engineering professor, FDU; president, Washington Township Baeeball & Softball.
- Desserie Morgan — 19-year resident; married, four daughters; assistant vice president of nursing at a major NYC medical center; master’s in healthcare leadership/administration; former Republican council president; Board of Health member; founder, Mini Cardinal Cheer.
Campaign priorities (as provided)
- Calamari–Sears–Velez (Republican ticket). Priorities include maintaining “small-town character” (select recreation land acquisitions, tree-canopy preservation, keeping a natural feel), strengthening community services (expanded recycling, more wellness events, public safety), and “experience and stability,” citing infrastructure upgrades, facility improvements, and stormwater/waterway work for lasting solutions.
- Stamatopoulos (Democrat). Stamatopoulos says her first priority is a more open, responsive local government: timely replies, easy-to-find information, and regular meeting minutes (she notes none are posted yet for 2025). She also wants to rethink sidewalks and access, arguing the town should prioritize safe routes for people “walking, biking, rolling”—not just driving. “Information needs to be easy to find and easy to understand. Communication needs to be timely and frequent.”
- DeSena (Independent) and Morgan (Independent). Platform highlights include responsible spending, residents first, transparency and accountability, “finish what’s started,” and a safe, family-friendly township. Recreation proposals include hiring a full-time director, expanding offerings (senior exercise, bocce, cornhole, over-25 baseball, women’s softball), working with the Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission, pursuing grants (e.g., Sherry Field lighting), and increasing DPW services. (Morgan said her priorities mirror DeSena’s.)
Where they stand on key issues
Deer management
- Calamari ticket: Continue resident education on state Fish & Wildlife statutes; coordinate with neighboring towns to “develop practical solutions.”
- Stamatopoulos: Calls the herd unsustainable and says the borough doesn’t need to spend money on drone scans to prove it. She favors public education (don’t feed deer; plant deer-resistant landscaping) and luring deer toward less-populated areas by planting “favorites” there. Not a fan of culling, she says it can be a management tool and wants to discuss Saddle River’s bow-hunting program before deciding if it fits here.
- DeSena: Calls for a comprehensive plan following assessment of deer density, browse impacts, and community tolerance; pair population control with site-specific damage prevention; notes public engagement is needed and that total elimination of damage is not realistic.
- Morgan: Would work with county partners on safe population control; suggests exploring non-lethal fertility options (e.g., PZP, GonaCon), using drone data to target fencing/signage, and promoting tick prevention and deer-resistant landscaping.
Former Swim Club (contamination/cleanup; future use)
- Calamari–Sears–Velez: Will follow EPA/DEP remediation and “work to secure additional cleanup grants.”
- Stamatopoulos: Supports a transparent cleanup with grant-seeking to blunt costs and continuous communication: publish test results and key dates online and add an FAQ/definitions page. After remediation, she sees the site as a community asset—potentially rebuilding the clubhouse for meetings/events—and wants residents to vote on amenities (ideas she’s heard include a running path connection to Gardner, a dog park, and a pump track). She suggests a kids’ sticker-board vote at the library so “even our smallest citizens” can weigh in.
- DeSena: Current conditions and plan “deeply concerning.” After cleanup is defined and completed, would revisit original concept for fields and amenities, guided by a town-wide survey and grants/philanthropy.
- Morgan: Says she supported the purchase but “was not given the full facts” and is concerned about contamination and delays; urges transparency, clear timelines, and fiscal accountability, with residents—not an appointed group—guiding the outcome.
450 Pascack Road (3.2 acres; open-space acquisition)
- Calamari ticket: Keep natural character; add parking for Memorial Field activities and an outdoor fitness area (as presented to the county Open Space Committee).
- Stamatopoulos: Calling the parcel “narrow, but surprisingly deep” and noting it runs behind Washington School, she pitches a nature-forward space: hammock grove, orienteering course, geocache trail, nature obstacle course, hidden sculptures by local artists, a barefoot sensory path, storybook walks, even a berry trail/food forest—with final choices guided by community input.
- DeSena: Keep open space while larger financial projects proceed; longer term, create a community park with passive and active amenities, mindful of Washington Elementary School nearby.
- Morgan: Also favors open space/park uses; mentions pickleball courts or a modest dog park among potential additions.