2 Independent Candidates Enter Race For Hopatcong Council Seats

HOPATCONG, NJ — The Hopatcong primaries were initially uncontested on both the Republican and Democratic sides, but now there are five candidates overall running for two seats, since two independents have joined the ticket.

Marie Galate and Heather Fiore now hold spots five and six on the ballot, with their “Transparency In Hopatcong Campaign.”

Galate is a lifetime resident and business owner, who became a Hopatcong Councilwoman in 2007. Galate lost her seat after the 2018 election, when Dawn Roberts and Ryan Smith were elected, who are each running again for their seats in this election.

Fiore, who has previously run for a council seat, was recently featured in a Patch article about parents in Hopatcong who have been challenging mask mandates in New Jersey schools.

Galate’s and Fiore’s campaign page on Facebook, Transparency for a Debt-Free Hopatcong, outlines more about each of them, as well as their campaign fundraising.

Hopatcong’s ballot additionally has Mara Modes in the third spot, the sole Democratic candidate in the council election.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.