An upset in Franklin Lakes Council race. See the primary election results
Winning the Republican primary on June 10 were retired Superior Court Judge Joseph S. Conte with 780 votes and former elementary school board member Joseph Rosano with 742 votes.
Incumbent Joel Ansh, seeking his second term, came in third with 621 votes and his running mate Michael Kazimir, came in fourth with 605 votes.
"I'm very happy that I was able to win my first election," Conte said Wednesday. "I think I've got the legal background and knowledge of land use to be of assistance, but I thank all the voters for having confidence in me."
Rosano said they are "grateful for our community's support over the past weeks."
The borough's "Republicans turned out in force for this primary and we hear their message," Rosano said. "We will be respectful and transparent council members."
It is the fourth year the Republican-dominated borough has faced a primary challenge.
Ansh and running mate Ardith Cardenas began the challenge in 2022 when they were the surprise candidates nominated by the GOP Municipal Committee, leaving three-term incumbents Joseph Cadicina and Ann Swist to run unsuccessfully on an alternate GOP line.
Cardenas did not seek reelection with Ansh.
CONTESTED PRIMARY 4 Franklin Lakes Republican council candidates to face off again on June 10
In 2023, the Municipal Committee again skipped the incumbent, Gail Kelly, seeking her second term, in favor of Planning Board Chairman Gary Sheppard to run with incumbent Dennis Bonagura seeking his third term. In a surprise split, voters elected Kelly and Sheppard.
In 2024, Cadicina made another unsuccessful attempt at a fourth term running in the primary against GOP Municipal Committee nominees Councilwoman Michele DeLuccia and newcomer Constantine "Dean" Skamas.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ primary election upset results in Franklin Lakes Council race
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