Bergen County Elections in 2007

[Verily]

Just a brief run-down of interesting elections with extra focus on ones I cared somewhat about.

The Democrats held on to all three Freeholder seats and the Sheriff, though I wrote in their primary opponents for all four races.

In Bergenfield, the Weinberg Democrat who ousted the Ferriero Democrat in the mayoral primary cruised to victory.

Bogota replaced its infamously anti-immigration Republican mayor with a Democrat. (He didn't run for reelection, and would have lost if he did; Bogota lost a lot of money on his anti-illegal immigration campaigns.)

The Republicans gained two seats on Carlstadt Borough Council, sweeping the Council.

Carole Cardinale, wife of Republican State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, lost her Borough Council seat in Cresskill.

The powerful independent grouping on Edgewater Borough Council knocked off one of the Democratic incumbents, Maureen Holtje, who was in trouble for corruption.

Emerson ousted their Democratic mayor to go with their all-Republican Borough Council.

A surprisingly strong independent campaign by Weinberg Democrat Dierdre Paul nearly upset Jack Drakeford in my hometown of Englewood for the 4th Ward City Council seat (not my ward).

In Hillsdale, the Democrats lost two Borough Council seats and the mayoralty.

In Rutherford, Democratic mayor Bernadette McPherson (also a Freeholder) was crushed for reelection by about 70-30. Her downballot fellows suffered equally. (This is DWTL's town; he'll be happy.)

Generally a bad year for Democrats in Bergen County, except in the Northern Valley, where they made gains.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Most of the downballot results I'm looking at now show a pretty damn good night for Republicans.

In Somerset County, where Democrats nearly picked up a Freeholder seat, Republicans defeated three incumbent Mayors: Drake in Hillsborough, Corradino in Manville, and Eickhorst in South Bound Brook.  They also picked up council seats in Manville, South Bound Brook, and North Plainfield.

In Middlesex County, Republicans defeated incumbents and swept the council seats in Metuchen, Milltown, Sayreville, and South Plainfield.  Republicans also picked up the mayorality of South River and swept the council seats there.  Republicans also came suprisingly close to winning seats in Edison, where Sudhanshu Prasad beat out Aimee Szilagyi for the fourth seat, 6,251 to 5,647.

Burlington County was mostly good news for Republicans.  Democrats did pick up the mayorality of Burlington City and swept the council seats there.  Republicans, meanwhile, picked up mayorality of Florence (open seat).  Republicans also easily held a freeholder seat and Sheriff's office.

[Verily]

Mr. Moderate, would you happen to know anything about Edgewater's politics? I've always found it odd that they have such a powerful independent presence, and I don't know the reason. It never seems to be covered in local papers or news.

My guess is that the independents are anti-development while the Democrats and Republicans both support the rapid urbanization of Edgewater (one of only two towns in the county to not stringently restrict tall buildings; Fort Lee is the other), but I don't really know. If that is the case, I find it odd that they seem to be gaining ground as it's clear that the pro-development faction has won in Edgewater by the massive volume of new apartment buildings going up all the time.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I'm afraid the mechanations of Edgewater are not my strong point.  When I was working the political beat there in NJ, most of my Bergen County work was centered around the ridiculous Bergen GOP feud of 2006.  (Edgewater didn't factor in to that, obviously.)

[DownWithTheLeft]

The Republicans will take back Bergen County in about 5 years.  This is a great start

[DownWithTheLeft]

In Rutherford, Democratic mayor Bernadette McPherson (also a Freeholder) was crushed for reelection by about 70-30. Her downballot fellows suffered equally. (This is DWTL's town; he'll be happy.)

You have no idea

[Silent Hunter]

What was the result last time?

[DownWithTheLeft]

Just to delve further into the Meadowlands:

North Arlington:
Voted out 2 D for 2 R Councilman

Lyndhurst:
No election

Rutherford:
Voted in 3 R giving them 70% of the vote

East Rutherford:
Re-Elected R Mayor and 2 R Councilman by 2-1 Margin

Carlstadt:
Re-Elected R Mayor by 2-1 Margin and gained a seat on the council by go up 6-0

Wood-Ridge:
Sarlo (D) wins unopposed

Hasbrouck Heights:
Fmr. Mayor Rose Heck (R) wins convincely

This is definetly a good sign for Republicans to be dominating this area.

[Verily]

Just to delve further into the Meadowlands:

North Arlington:
Voted out 2 D for 2 R Councilman

Lyndhurst:
No election

Rutherford:
Voted in 3 R giving them 70% of the vote

East Rutherford:
Re-Elected R Mayor and 2 R Councilman by 2-1 Margin

Carlstadt:
Re-Elected R Mayor by 2-1 Margin and gained a seat on the council by go up 6-0

Wood-Ridge:
Sarlo (D) wins unopposed

Hasbrouck Heights:
Fmr. Mayor Rose Heck (R) wins convincely

This is definetly a good sign for Republicans to be dominating this area.

Republicans have always been dominant in the area on the local level.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Just to delve further into the Meadowlands:

North Arlington:
Voted out 2 D for 2 R Councilman

Lyndhurst:
No election

Rutherford:
Voted in 3 R giving them 70% of the vote

East Rutherford:
Re-Elected R Mayor and 2 R Councilman by 2-1 Margin

Carlstadt:
Re-Elected R Mayor by 2-1 Margin and gained a seat on the council by go up 6-0

Wood-Ridge:
Sarlo (D) wins unopposed

Hasbrouck Heights:
Fmr. Mayor Rose Heck (R) wins convincely

This is definetly a good sign for Republicans to be dominating this area.

Republicans have always been dominant in the area on the local level.

My point remains, you have to start somewhere.  Q: How did the Dems rise to power in Bergen County? A: By doing exactly what the Republicans are doing now

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Just to delve further into the Meadowlands:

North Arlington:
Voted out 2 D for 2 R Councilman

Lyndhurst:
No election

Rutherford:
Voted in 3 R giving them 70% of the vote

East Rutherford:
Re-Elected R Mayor and 2 R Councilman by 2-1 Margin

Carlstadt:
Re-Elected R Mayor by 2-1 Margin and gained a seat on the council by go up 6-0

Wood-Ridge:
Sarlo (D) wins unopposed

Hasbrouck Heights:
Fmr. Mayor Rose Heck (R) wins convincely

This is definetly a good sign for Republicans to be dominating this area.

Republicans have always been dominant in the area on the local level.

It had been swinging towards the Democrats in recent years, but Republicans were able to capitalize on Encap on the local level.

I was shocked to see Rose Marie Heck move back into relevance.

[HardRCafé]

I was shocked to see Rose Marie Heck move back into relevance.

With a body like that, any way she moves is relevant.  Hubba hubba!