Contested Races for Westwood Mayor and Council, Uncontested Council Race in the Township Expected in November

Westwood voters will have Democrat and Republican options for the mayor and council seats in November while those in the township will see not see any Democrats.

Monday was the filing deadline for the June primary. Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr. will be running for reelection on the Democratic ticket while current Council President Robert Miller will run for that office for the Republicans. Borough Clerk Karen Hughes said if Miller were to win in November, he would step down as councilman and the governing body would go through the vacancy process.

Republican council members John J. Sciara and Cynthia Waneck will be on the June primary seeking reelection. Democratic challengers Philip Cerruti and David Fischer have filed for the primary to try to gain those council seats in November.

In Washington Township, no Democrats filed for the primary. Republican councilmen Steven Cascio, Glenn Beckmeyer and Richard Hrbek will be seeking reelection.

For state Senate in the 39th legislative district, of which Westwood and Washington Township are a part, Republican incumbent Gerald Cardinale of Demarest and Republican Michael J. Cino of Demarest are on the unofficial list of candidates. Democrat Lorraine Waldes also appears on the list for the June primary.

For the General Assembly in the 39th district, Repbulicans Michael Wilson of Bloomingdale and Sara Higgins of Haskell are on the ballot against incumbent Republicans Charlotte Vandervalk of Hillsdale and Robert Schroeder of Washington Township. Democrats Anthony Iannenelli Jr. of Ramsey and Michael McCarthy of Dumont are also running.

The primary will be held June 7.