Republican Turnout Doubles Dems in Village Primary

Miniscule voter turnout marked Tuesday's primaries in Ridgewood. 

Though Republican voters had few choices to make, they doubled the Democrats in both percentage and total votes for congressional and county races.

Although Republican Rep. Scott Garret, county executive candidate and County Clerk Kathleen Donovan and county sheriff candidate Michael Saudino ran unopposed, 510 (12 percent) party members turned out Tuesday.

For the Democrats, who had a congressional race between lawyers Tod Theise and Anthony Iannarelli, Jr., only 294 (6 percent) voters turned out. Reflecting the sentiment throughout District 5, Ridgewood voters favored Theise, as he earned the nomination with 245 (83 percent) votes.

Democratic County Executive Dennis McNerney and Sheriff Leo McGuire ran unopposed to earn ballot entry in November.

For each party, the three freeholder candidates easily won bids for November. Democrats James Carroll, Elizabeth Calabrese and John Hogan will face off against Republicans Francis Valenzuela, Maura DeNicola and John Felice in the fall. Carroll and Calabrese are incumbents with Hogan running in place of former chairman Tomas Padilla, a Democrat who resigned June 4 to take a position with Hackensack police.

The nominated candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November. That day, an open election to fill the late Councilwoman Anne Zusy's term will also be held in Ridgewood.

Compiled by Sam Fran Scavuzzo