West Orange Voter Guide For 2026 Election: Mayor, Council, School Board

WEST ORANGE, NJ — It's all coming down to the wire in West Orange.

New Jersey's 2026 general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early in-person voting is taking place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.

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The midterm election includes a full lineup of Congress races, including New Jersey's 10th House district, where U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver faces a challenge from Carmen Bucco. However, the big fireworks are taking place on a municipal level this year in West Orange.

Local races include:

• Mayor – A crowded field of seven candidates are duking it out to become the town's next mayor: Joe Krakoviak, Tammy Williams, Susan McCartney, Susan Scarpa, Joyce Rudin, Phillip Orphanidis, and Brian Rock.
• Town Council – Five candidates are competing for two open seats on the township council: Matthew Dvorin, Jackie Hendy, Justin Goldsman, Kenneth Gibbons, and Micaela Bennett.
• School Board – Three candidates are trying to emerge with a victory in the race for a seat on the West Orange Board of Education: Brendan Mims, Maria Vera, and Lawrence Weintraub.

Here's what to know ahead of one of the most closely watched elections in the town's recent history:

MAYOR RACE

West Orange voters will have several choices for mayor in the 2026 general election. Here are the candidates and their slogans, in the order they appear on the ballot:

• Joe Krakoviak – "Together, We Can Do Better!" (learn more about this candidate here)
• Tammy Williams – "Moving Forward Together" (learn more about this candidate here)
• Susan McCartney – "Integrity. Investment. Innovation." (learn more about this candidate here)
• Susan Scarpa – "Take No Money, Owe No Favors" (learn more about this candidate here)
• Joyce Rudin – "Honesty, Integrity, Accountability" (learn more about this candidate here)
• Phillip Orphanidis – "West Orange Deserves Better" (learn more about this candidate here)
• Brian Rock – "Experience & Leadership = Progress" (learn more about this candidate here)

Several candidate debates and forums have been held in the months leading up to Election Day.

A forum for mayoral candidates took place at Congregation Ohr Torah on Sept. 28. Watch video footage here, courtesy of the League of Women Voters.

Another mayoral debate took place Oct. 5. The event was hosted by the West Orange African Heritage Organization in collaboration with the United Presbyterian Church of West Orange.

The West Orange Pride Coalition and its partners also hosted an Elected Officials Town Hall with the candidates on Oct. 12. Watch video footage here.

TOWN COUNCIL RACE

Meanwhile, five candidates are competing for two open seats on the township council: Matthew Dvorin, Jackie Hendy, Justin Goldsman, Kenneth Gibbons, and Micaela Bennett.

Here are the candidates and their slogans, in the order they appear on the ballot (click their name to see their campaign websites):

• Matthew Dvorin – "Working For West Orange"

• Jackie Hendy – "Leadership That Listens"

• Justin Goldsman – "New Energy, Real Solutions"

• Kenneth Gibbons – "Elect An Auditor, Not An Insider"

• Micaela Bennett – "Truth. Actions. Service."

A forum for town council candidates took place at Congregation Ohr Torah on Sept. 30. Watch video footage here, courtesy of the League of Women Voters.

The West Orange Pride Coalition and its partners hosted an Elected Officials Town Hall with the candidates on Oct. 12. Watch video footage here.

SCHOOL BOARD RACE

Three people are competing for a spot on the West Orange Board of Education.

In New Jersey, school board members are nonpartisan and do not declare political parties when running for office. They do not receive pay or benefits for their service.

• Maria Vera, the incumbent, is a career educator who works as a school counselor in Orange. Her campaign social media page can be seen here, and her platform can be viewed here.
• Brendan Mims is also a longtime educator, who has held positions including teacher, dean, assistant principal and superintendent. His campaign social media page can be seen here, and his platform can be viewed here.
• Lawrence Weintraub is a physicist and parent who has been active as a leader with West Orange Parents for Education. Learn more about his campaign and platform here.

The West Orange Council of PTA's (WOCPTA) held a candidate forum for the school board candidates in mid-October. Watch video footage here.

The West Orange Pride Coalition and its partners hosted an Elected Officials Town Hall with the three candidates on Oct. 12. Watch video footage here.

PATCH CANDIDATE PROFILES

Patch has posted candidate profiles for each person running in the mayor and town council races. Read their profiles at the links below (click name to read the article):

Mayor:

• Joe Krakoviak
• Tammy Williams
• Susan McCartney
• Susan Scarpa
• Joyce Rudin
• Phillip Orphanidis
• Brian Rock

Town Council:

• Matthew Dvorin
• Jackie Hendy
• Justin Goldsman
• Kenneth Gibbons
• Micaela Bennett

ELECTION INFO

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, which takes place Tuesday, Nov. 3. Find your local polling place here.

An early voting location can be found in West Orange at the Berson Family Center, South Mountain Recreation Complex, 560 Northfield Avenue. See days and hours here.

Drop boxes for mail-in ballots are located at the South Mountain Recreation Complex (at the parking deck), and at Town Hall, 66 Main Street (at the rear of the building).

For more information about local elections, contact the Township of West Orange Clerk's Office at clerk@westorange.org or 973-325-4155.

• Related: NJ Zoo Gets Bomb Threat On First Day Of Early Voting
• Related: West Orange Is Offering Local Seniors A Ride To The Polls For 2026 Election

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