Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Northfield City Council Election 2026
2 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Early voting begins (Oct 24): the election office's noticeThese 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.
City Council Ward 1
1 seat- Joan BrennanInventory analyst for Sysco Foods who is challenging Ward 1 Councilman David Notaro.7sourced
- David NotaroIncumbentSelf-employed builder and landscaper who owns Notaro Construction and Landscaping. He served on the City Council from 2006 to 2008, was elected again in 2020, and previously served on the Planning Board.12sourced
Voters in each ward choose one council member for that ward's seat; the Ward 1 and Ward 2 contests are separate, and only Ward 1 has more than one candidate.
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
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
01Municipal budget and taxes4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026 budget in April 2026 after passing an ordinance to exceed the state's appropriation limit.
What's on the tableThe next council will write the 2027 budget and decide whether to exceed the appropriation cap again.
- Mayor Erland Chau said the 2025 budget cycle resulted in a 6-cent increase in the local purpose tax. City of Northfield · Jan 6, 2026
- The city's chief financial officer said the state capped the appropriations increase at 2% and the council introduced an ordinance raising it to 3.5%. City of Northfield · Feb 12, 2026
- Ordinance 2-2026, to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank, passed 7-0 on Feb. 24, 2026. City of Northfield · Feb 24, 2026
- The 2026 budget, Resolution 110B-2026, was adopted 6-0 on April 21, 2026, with one member absent. City of Northfield · Apr 21, 2026
02Fire truck versus roads and sewer4 sourced facts
Where it standsIn April 2026 the council moved a new fire truck out of this year's capital plan and put more money toward roads and sewer.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide when to buy a new fire truck and how to split capital money with roads and sewer.
- The city's chief financial officer said the fire truck and various vehicles left only $250,000 for roads and $250,000 for sewer improvements in the draft capital ordinance. City of Northfield · Apr 7, 2026
- In a straw poll, all members present except Councilwoman Carfagno favored removing the truck, adding a drone and putting more toward road and sewer improvements. City of Northfield · Apr 7, 2026
- Fire Captain Nixon told the council that truck prices are climbing and lead times are very long. City of Northfield · Apr 21, 2026
- Bond Ordinance 10-2026, appropriating $1,360,000 for various improvements, passed 7-0 on May 5, 2026. City of Northfield · May 5, 2026
03Recycling pickup for businesses4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council agreed in April 2026 to stop city collection of commercial recycling, with 90 days' notice to businesses.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to keep this change as the city's collection contract with the ACUA continues.
- Councilman Polistina said the city was spending around $65,000 to collect commercial recycling. City of Northfield · Apr 7, 2026
- Council members agreed to eliminate commercial recycling and give 90 days' notice. City of Northfield · Apr 7, 2026
- Resolution 149-2026 authorized a shared services agreement with the Atlantic County Utilities Authority for solid waste, recycling and yard waste collection and passed 7-0 on May 5, 2026. City of Northfield · May 5, 2026
- Mayor Chau said he received several complaints about the letter sent to businesses regarding recycling pickup. City of Northfield · May 19, 2026
04Crossing guard services3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city sought bids from outside vendors for crossing guard services in 2026, then rejected the bids in July.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether the city keeps directly employing its crossing guards.
- Resolution 148-2026 approved specifications and public bidding for crossing guard services on May 5, 2026. City of Northfield · May 5, 2026
- The crossing guard supervisor told the council the guards did not think a change was in the best interest of the community, the children or the guards. City of Northfield · Jun 9, 2026
- Resolution 182-2026, rejecting the bids received for crossing guard services, passed 7-0 on July 14, 2026. City of Northfield · Jul 14, 2026
05Habitat for Humanity homes on Dolphin Avenue3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted a Dolphin Avenue Redevelopment Plan in March 2026 and in August authorized transferring the lots to Habitat for Humanity.
What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the project, including the stormwater basins the city will own.
- Ordinance 7-2026 adopted the Dolphin Avenue Redevelopment Plan for Block 66, Lot 11 and Block 69, Lot 1.02. City of Northfield · Mar 10, 2026
- The city engineer said the stormwater basins would be owned and maintained by the city, with no HOA. City of Northfield · Mar 24, 2026
- Resolution 198-2026 authorized the mayor to execute closing documents for the transfer of the Dolphin Avenue lots between the city and Habitat for Humanity of South-Central New Jersey. City of Northfield · Aug 31, 2026
06Yard sale permit fees2 sourced facts
Where it standsA resident asked the council in 2026 to eliminate the yard sale fee or waive it for city-wide sales run by the Cultural Committee.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to keep, waive or drop the yard sale fee.
- Council President Bucci said the fee allows the city to track sales so people are not selling every weekend. City of Northfield · Jun 9, 2026
- Joan Brennan suggested two free city-wide yard sales a year organized by the Cultural Committee and sought guidance so residents would not have to pay the $5.00 fee. City of Northfield · Aug 11, 2026
2 notes on these statements
Thomas Polistina is the only candidate on the ballot for the Ward 2 seat; no Democratic nomination was made. Atlantic County Clerk · Aug 12, 2026
As of July 2026, Republicans held all seven City Council seats. New Jersey Globe · Jul 14, 2026
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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. When costs rise faster than the state's spending cap, should the council pass an ordinance to exceed the cap?
2. Should the city buy a new fire truck now, or put roads and sewer work first?
3. Should the city keep paying to collect recycling from businesses?
4. Should the city give the Dolphin Avenue lots to Habitat for Humanity for new homes?
5. Should the city charge a permit fee for yard sales?
Key dates
- Early voting begins (through Nov. 1)Atlantic County ClerkOct 24, 2026
The seat math
5 stay (not up this year): Carolyn Bucci, Renee Carfagno, Greg Dewees, Cindy Kern, Brian Smith2 on this ballot
7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The city lists Renee Carfagno, Dave Notaro and Brian Smith as 1st Ward council members and Carolyn Bucci, Greg Dewees and Tom Polistina as 2nd Ward council members. City of Northfield
- Voters elected Erland Chau, a Republican, as mayor in the November 2023 general election. Atlantic County Clerk · Nov 7, 2023
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