photo of Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo
by Frank T. Pallotta
Westwood NJ, what do Bergen County Mayors, Carlos Rendo (Woodcliff Lake), Mike Ghassali (Montvale), John Glidden (Closter), Dan Pronti (North Arlington), Daniele Fede (Bogota), Ray Arroyo (Westwood), and a few others, all have in common? They are Republican Mayors in towns with more registered Democrats than Republicans. In fact, in Bergen County, where registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans, there are more Republicans serving as Mayors and Council than there are Democrats! While this might seem counterintuitive, it makes a great deal of sense.
In the intricate dance of American politics, where party lines often seem “etched in stone”, the phenomenon of Republican mayors emerging victorious in predominantly Democratic towns, is a testament to the complex nature of local governance. Traditional Democrat bastions are wittnessing a political metamorphosis that challenges conventional wisdom. Recent “flips” in Woodcliff Lake, Dumont, and Oradell, point to strong messaging, exceptional contact & outreach methodologies, and a growing reliance on data and statistical analysis.
Another factors contributing to this success is the prioritization of local issues. Voters are becoming more attuned to concerns that impact their families and communities. Strong Republican mayors adeptly tap into this sentiment by focusing on key issues like infrastructure, education, and public safety. Tailoring their platforms to address these issues tend to attract a more diverse voter base. In fact, statistically, Mayors Ghassali, Rendo, and Pronti are political anomalies when combining win percentage, with local party splits. For example, Mayor Ghassali won his 2023 Mayors race in Montvale by more than 41 points. And with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by 9 points, Mike’s adjusted win margin of 50 points was the widest of all the contested races in Bergen County!
Charisma and leadership also emerge as crucial attributes as voters are often times drawn to candidates who exhibit a deep understanding of local issues and promote real solutions. Dan Pronti, Ray Arroyo and Carlos Rendo for example, have the ability to connect with their constituents on a personal level that transcends ideological boundaries. Recently elected Bogota Mayor Daniele Fede is another example of an exceptional candidate allowing her record of unwavering dedication to her town, do the talking. Her decades-long commitment to Bogota did not go unnoticed in the months leading up to election day, resulting in one of the more impressive and unexpected Bergen County wins.
The most successful Republican candidates adopt a sensible and realistic stance on issues like economic development and social services, without deviating from traditional, principled party values. Republican candidates who position themselves as pragmatic problem-solvers in Democrat strongholds rather than ideologues, are well-positioned to capitalize on changing demographic dynamics. The pinnacle however of strong mayoral leadership may not necessarily be the margin of victory in a contested race, but rather the uncontested Republican blowouts in Democrat towns like we saw with Ray Arroyo in Westwood, Jim Barsa in Norwood, and Benny Romeo in Cresskill where Democrats didn’t even bother to field a candidate!
The election of strong Republican’s in largely Democrat towns is a nuanced interplay of local issues, candidate attributes, and strategic policy positioning. This phenomenon underscores the adaptability and resilience of true American democracy at the grassroots level. As voters prioritize effective governance over rigid party affiliations, the political landscape will continue to evolve, challenging traditional expectations and enriching the democratic tapestry of a County that hasn’t won a County election in 12 years.
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On the district level, Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck re-zoned Guttenheimer’s district after Scott Garret(R) kept on winning. Now it favors democrats. It has to go back to the old zoning where there was equality in voting. Again another Democrat voting interference.
I don’t disagree about the redistricting, but you can’t “go back”. You have to figure out how to beat them at their own game. Winning a CD 5 race – that has approximately 70 towns – is a matter of finding out how to close the margins in less than only a dozen. Figuring out how to win is easy; execution is the problem.