Democratic Majority Takes over Borough Council

Still recovering from Sandy's aftermath, Paramus voters took to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots for both council and Board of Election seats. 

Council

Change has come to Paramus with a new majority as Democratic political newcomers Patsy Verile and Donna Warburton followed on the 2011 successes of Council members Elena Bellinger and Joseph Lagana.

Warburton and Verile led the unofficial ballot results with 5,256 and 5,022 votes over incumbents Michael Rohdieck (4,671) and Dennis Arslanian (4,580).

Verile is the Community Outreach Associate at Berkeley College, where he is responsible for managing budgets and employees. He is a member of the Paramus Rotary, former former Vice President of Chamber of Commerce, former member of Paramus Education Foundation and has served on the Environmental Board, Recreation Coach.

Warburton is the Community Liaison at Tiffany & Co. at The Shops at Riverside, Hackensack. She has lived in town since she was seven-years-old having graduated through the public school system and Bergen Community College.

Rohdieck won his first election three years ago, while Arslanian was appointed to fill Tom Locicero's seat after he stepped down.

Arslanian, is the former owner of a NYC printing and advertising business and serves as the treasurer and finance chairman on the NJ Horseman Association Board of Directors. He is the liaison to Fire Department and Fire Prevention Inspection Committee Member. 

Rohdieck, a former US Marine, owns Newmans Fish Food Company since 2007. He currently serves as the liaison to the Pool Commission and Veterans Affairs. He was elected to the borough council in 2009 and currently serves as the council president.

Board of Education

With seven names on the ballot, residents chose to return incumbents Bernadette McCausland (2,056) and Anthony Feorenzo Jr. (1,953) to the Board of Education along with newcomer Alison Donoghue (2,813).

Anthony Feorenzo Jr. is the owner of Mercury Construction Retail. Along with serving on the Board of Ed for the past six years, he spent eight years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, was the director of recreation football, U-14 softball coach, and sponsor of two Gift of Life children.

Bernadette McCausland started her career as a CPA for a NYC accounting firm before transitioning to a private company where she was employed as a controller for 12 years. The lifelong borough resident was elected to the BOE in 2009 where she has served on Finance Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee and as liaison to Paramus Community School.

Alison Donoghue is the transition coordinator for the River Dell Regional School district for the past 10 years and is a licensed social worker.

Incumbent Frank Straka garnered 1,803 votes but was unable to retain his seat. Usman Chaudhary picked up 1,438; Caroline Suh had 948 and Judith Abel received 1,405. 

There are 17,381 registered voters in Paramus. All results will be unofficial until early next week while officials calculate both provisional and main-in ballots.