BogotaNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Bogota Borough Council Election 2026

2 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 9, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early in-person voting begins (Oct 24): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters choose up to two of three candidates for two Borough Council seats; the mayor is not on this ballot.

Early in-person voting begins · Oct 24

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • U.S. Senate
    • Cory Booker · Democratic
    • Justin Murphy · Republican
    • Veronica Fernandez · End the Corruption!
    • Joanne Kuniansky · Socialist Workers Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. HouseDistrict 5
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Budget and property taxes3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe borough's CFO presented a 2026 budget in March 2026 that he said would rise 7.5%, about $319 a year more for the average home.

What's on the tableThe next council will write and adopt the 2027 municipal budget.

02Borrowing for parks, equipment and sewers4 sourced facts

Where it standsTwo bond ordinances introduced in September 2026 would borrow for equipment, public improvements and the Olsen Park project.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee these projects and decide on further borrowing.

03Affordable housing2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn December 2025 the council authorized a mediation/settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing Center.

What's on the tableThe next council will carry out the borough's affordable-housing plan and respond to state land-use bills.

04Rescue Squad and Fire Department merger2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council voted in December 2025 to merge Rescue Squad volunteers into the Bogota Fire Department.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee how the merged department works.

05Police and fire vehicle lease2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe borough pays monthly for a police and fire fleet lease with Enterprise FM Trust, and Council President Kohles and Councilwoman Carpenter have voted against the Enterprise purchase orders.

What's on the tableThe next council will vote each month on these lease payments and on the vehicle budget.

2 notes on these statements

Lisa Kohles and Diana Vergara are in the Democratic column and Louis J. Alvarez is in the Republican column; the Republican column shows no nomination for the second seat. Bergen County Clerk · Nov 3, 2026

Diana Vergara was absent from the December 18, 2025 council meeting. Borough of Bogota · Dec 18, 2025

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should Bogota settle its affordable-housing obligation by agreement rather than in court?

  2. 2. Should the volunteer Rescue Squad be merged into the Fire Department?

  3. 3. Should the council keep approving payments on the Enterprise police and fire vehicle lease?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Consuelo Carpenter, Daniele Fede, William Hordern, Patrick H. McHale, John Mitchell2 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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