Wyckoff Official School Election Results: Incumbent Beats 'Parents' Rights' Candidate

WYCKOFF, NJ — After a heated battle over one seat representing Wyckoff on the regional Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education, Brian DeLaite has officially won re-election.

The vote totals were close, showing a split over the direction taken by a new board majority over the past year.

Not all results were available on Election Day, as voters with paper ballots could mail them throughout the day, to be counted later. The numbers below are the final certified results.

Want to post a letter to the editor about local issues? Follow these instructions.

Local Results

The big battle in Wyckoff was over a seat on the Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education, which oversees two regional high schools: Indian Hills High School and Ramapo High School.

Incumbent Brian DeLaite faced political newcomer Jared A. Geist. (Read about the controversy in the race here).

In the past year, a new board majority has made some decisions that resulted in protests — including voting not to fund certain mental health programs for the students, and even voting to overturn the superintendent's recommendations for discipline in anti-harassment cases. After the vote on mental health over the summer, there was an outcry from parents and students, and the board majority changed their vote.

DeLaite had voted in favor of keeping the mental health programs.

Geist was allied with "Parents' Rights" groups that believe parents aren't getting enough say in schools. His ad said, about parents' rights supporters, "We're extremely committed to faith" — showing a circle of people appearing to pray together — and included a description below saying, "I will promote transparency, support traditional academics without agendas or ideology."

On Election Day, the preliminary totals were:

• Brian DeLaite: 1,692
• Jared A. Geist: 1,659

As of Wednesday, Nov. 22, the county clerk had certified the election results. The final totals were:

Ramapo-Indian Hills School Board Vote Totals For Wyckoff Seat

• Brian DeLaite: 2,293
• Jared A. Geist: 2,059
  
• Write-Ins: 6

Want to see other Bergen County races and numbers? Click here.

Want to post a letter to the editor, event, or press release? Follow these instructions.