West Orange Needs New Town Council Member To Replace Ghebremicael

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Think that you have what it takes to be a town council member in West Orange? Here’s your chance.

On Tuesday, the township announced that it is seeking candidates to fill a vacant seat on the council after Asmeret Ghebremicael’s resignation.

“After much reflection, and following advice from my medical professionals and heartfelt discussions with my family, I’ve made the difficult decision to step down from the West Orange Township Council,” Ghebremicael explained last week.

“This choice wasn’t easy – but it’s necessary to prioritize my health and healing, especially for my son,” she said.

>> Read More: Asmeret Ghebremicael Resigns From West Orange Town Council

Councilmember Joyce Rudin pointed out that state law grants the municipal council the authority to fill a vacant seat within 30 days of the vacancy's occurrence with a majority vote. That position would be filled until the November election.

According to a municipal advisory, the council is now in need of a qualified person to fill the remainder of Ghebremicael’s unexpired term, which ends on Dec. 31, 2026.

Applicants can submit a letter of interest to the township clerk's office via email at clerk@westorange.org

To be considered for appointment, candidates must generally meet the following criteria:

• Age - Be at least 18 years old
• Voter Registration - Be a registered voter in the municipality
• Residency - Reside in the municipality for at least one year prior to the election
• Nominating Petition - Obtain nominating petitions from your municipal clerk's office
• Signatures - Collect the required number of signatures from qualified residents who endorse your candidacy (the number of verified petitions needed to qualify for the election is 75)
• Background Check - All candidates are subject to mandatory background checks by the New Jersey State Police.

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