Low Turnout for June Primary Elections in River Dell

Low turnout at the polls were seen across the board in Oradell and River Edgeduring the June 5 primary. Oradell has 5,650 registered voters but only 493 (8.7%) participated in the primary. There are 6,928 registered voters in River Edge with approximately 814 (8.5%) who cast a ballot Tuesday. 

Presidential Candidates

President Barack Obama and VP Joe Biden picked up 157 votes in Oradell and 278 from River Edge. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney earned 265 Oradell marks and River Edge gave him 209.

Freeholder Candidates

Republican Freeholder candidates former River Edge Mayor Margaret "Peg" Watkins and incumbent Robert Hermansen of Mahwah picked up 251 and 246 votes respectively in Oradell along with 220 and 196 from Watkins' hometown. Overall they garnered 9,875 and 9,923 in total.

Democrats Tracy Zur of Franklin Lakes (102) led her challengers among Oradell voters followed by running mate Steve Tanelli of North Arlington (96) and will challenge Hermansen and Watkins for the two Freeholder seats. Tanelli swept River Edge with 200 votes with Zur picking up 196. Tanelli finished with 14,318 votes and Zur had 14,083.

Denise Zaft of Fair Lawn and Stephon Bouldin of Elmwood Park picked up 41 and 36 vote in Oradell respectively. They each garnered 60 and 63 from River Edge.

State Senate

Incumbent Bob Menedez will face Republican challenger state senator Joe Kyrillos this November after he defeated primary opponents David Brown, an inventor from East Brunswick; Bader Qarmout, a professor and real estate investor from Newton; and Joseph “Rudy” Rullo, owner of a company that sells solar energy panels.

“I congratulate State Senator Joe Kyrillos on winning his primary race and look forward to a campaign that will focus on and discuss the differences between us in an honorable way,” Menedez said in a press release after the results were announced.

Kyrillos, 52, has been in the Legislature, first as an assemblyman and then state senator, for 24 years. He received 265 votes in Oradell and 168 in River Edge while Menedez garnered 150 and 290 from the two towns.

US Congress

Incumbent Scott Garret (District 5) soundly defeated Michael Cino and Bonnie Somer to retain his positioning on the November ballot. Garret, with the help of 269 Oradell votes and 221 River Edge votes won the GOP nomination.

Democratic Teaneck Councilman Adam Gussen (86 Oradell votes and 178 From River Edge) defeated opponents Jason Castle (43 Oradell and 87 River Edge) and Diane Sare (0 Oradell and 15 River Edge votes) for the right to challenge Garret this fall. 

Municipal Candidates

Running for two three-year terms in River Edge are Democrats Robert Levine (252) and Vito Acquafredda (256), incumbent Republican Paul Cordts (210) and his running mate Anthony Cappola (215).

In Oradel, incumbent Republicans Donna Risse Alonso and James Koth are seeking releection for two three-year terms in an uncontested race. They received 246 and 263 respectively.

Official results are still pending following Bergen County Board of Elections calculating any absentee ballots.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Eamon Harbord at Eamon.Harbord@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.