Mahwah Mayoral Race Down To 2 After 3 Candidates Drop Out

MAHWAH, NJ — Three of the five candidates running in the mayor recall election have dropped out, a day after they filed to run.

Council President Robert Hermansen, Frank Pallotta, and Mike Devine withdrew their applications to run in order to support Roth's candidacy.

Former Council President John Roth is the lone opponent running against incumbent William Laforet.

A question will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot to recall Laforet and list Roth and Laforet as candidates for the top elected post in the township. If Roth defeats Laforet, he will immediately become mayor.

"I told John since he is the only candidate in the race I will keep my promise and support him completely. I ask all my supporters and the rest of Mahwah to do the same," Hermansen said on Facebook. "We may have differences on how we arrived at this decision but John is the right person for this job at this moment. Our town needs to heal come back together. The scorched earth administration needs to go and we need to help by voting yes for the recall and vote for John Roth for mayor."

Pallotta said that he, Devine, Roth, and Hermansen discussed the situation together and determined that having one opponent run against Laforet was better than having four.

"Everyone in the group wanted to do the right thing. We want to do what is best for the town, not for the election," Pallotta said. "John is a good guy with a good voice who is not divisive. People want to hear a good voice and people want less divisiveness."

Roth could not be reached for comment.

Roth lost to Laforet in the 2016 mayoral election by only 92 votes. (See related: Election Results: William Laforet Wins Mahwah Mayoral Race)

Roth has a long history of public service. He served on the Board of Education for five years, the Planning Board for two, and then 12-years on the council. He was elected council president four times.

"Our town needs a significant course correction and new leadership to guide it with a proper moral compass and concern for what's right for Mahwah," Roth said when he ran in 2016. (See related: Meet The Mayoral Candidates: Why Are They Running?)

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photos: Former Councilman John Roth (Patch file photo)