General Election Showdown Set In Wayne For Council, County Offices

WAYNE, NJ — The field is set for November's general election in Wayne, after thousands cast their ballots in Tuesday's primary election.

For township council, there are contested races coming up in three wards where incumbents are seeking to hold their spots.

Wayne’s nine-member council has six members elected to specifically represent neighbors in a section of the township (or “ward”), and three members elected at-large to serve the whole town. Right now in Wayne, there are eight Republican members and one Democrat. Mayor Chris P. Vergano, a Republican, is in his fourth term.

Wayne Democrats put forward two candidates along with incumbent Fran Ritter, who represents the 5th ward, to challenge for wards 1 and 6. Council President Franco Mazzei (R) was not on the ballot for another term in Ward 3, and the Wayne Republican Regular Organization (WRRO) selected Board of Education trustee Michael Fattal as the candidate for that ward.

In Passaic County, two Democratic commissioners and the county clerk, who is also a Democrat, are looking to hold on to their seats.

And in the state legislature, two Republican representatives in the Senate and General Assembly are seeking another term representing Wayne and the other North Jersey communities in the 40th legislative district. And as Republican assemblymember Kevin Rooney prepares to retire, two candidates are looking to fill his seat.

Note: school board candidates were not on Tuesday's ballot, because nominating petitions for candidates are not due to county clerks until July 31, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Here are the unofficial elections results from Wayne for June 6's primary, with more than 96 percent of districts reporting.

Wayne township council

• Ward 1:
  • Richard Jasterzbski (R-inc.): 194
  • Arlene Sullivan (D): 112

• Ward 2:
  • Al Sadowski (R-inc.): 194
  • No Democrat filed
• Ward 3:
  • Michael Fattal (R): 240
  • No Democrat filed
• Ward 4:
  • Joseph Scuralli (R-inc.): 262
  • No Democrat filed
• Ward 5:
  • Matthew Cavallo (R): 173
  • Francine Ritter (D-inc.): 247
• Ward 6:
  • Jonathan Ettman (R-inc.): 224
  • Peter Rosky (D): 204

County offices

• Passaic county clerk
  • Danielle Ireland-Imhof (D-inc.): 5,955
  • Rosemary Pino (R): 2,936

• Passaic county commissioner (vote for two)
  • Bruce James (D-inc.): 5,843
  • Orlando Cruz (D-inc.): 5,843
  • Kelly Amico (R): 2,953
  • Andrena "Andie" Pegel (R): 2,928

State legislature (results from Passaic, Bergen, Essex counties)

NJ 40th Legislative District, Senate

• Kristin Corrado (R-inc.)
  • Passaic County (96.55 percent reporting): 3,093
  • Bergen County (100 percent reporting): 1,683
  • Essex County (100 percent reporting): 1,273

• Jennifer Ehrentraut (D)
  • Passaic County: 2,560
  • Bergen County: 1,294
  • Essex County: 1,770

NJ 40th Legislative District, General Assembly - vote for 2

• Christopher P. DePhillips (R-inc.)
  • Passaic County: 3,032
  • Bergen County: 1,643
  • Essex County: 1,241
• Al Barlas (R)
  • Passaic County: 2,985
  • Bergen County: 1,543
  • Essex County: 1,210

• Giovanna Irizarry (D)
  • Passaic County: 2,540
  • Bergen County: 1,226
  • Essex County: 1,723
• Jennifer Marrinan (D)
  • Passaic County: 2,531
  • Bergen County: 1,218
  • Essex County: 1,744

All 40 of New Jersey’s legislative districts have elections this year for state Senate and General Assembly seats. Democrats have a 46-34 advantage in the Assembly and a 25-15 margin in the Senate, but control won’t be decided until November.

The primary races in Wayne and in the 40th legislative district were fairly straightforward, being uncontested – with only one candidate listed for each party, in each position.