Oakland Borough Council · Nov 3, 2026
Russell Talamini
Candidate for Borough Council (incumbent)
Russell Talamini, the incumbent, is running for Oakland Borough Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 4 candidates are running for 2 seats.
Voter registration deadline · Tue, Oct 13, 2026
Oakland Borough Council President and former president of the Oakland K-8 Board of Education. He chairs the Council's Finance Committee and is a youth basketball and baseball coach.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Republican
- Campaign website
- russandryan2026.com
Russell Talamini and running mate Ryan Schwertfeger are the Republican candidates; Jim Folkerts and Frank Furbacher are independent candidates for the same two seats. New Jersey Globe · Jun 4, 2026
Where Russell Talamini stands: positions on the record
Property taxes and budget3 sourced positions
Voted yes on the ordinance letting the 2026 budget exceed the cap and set up a cap bank (passed 6-0, Apr. 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Apr 14, 2026
Voted yes to adopt the 2026 municipal budget (passed 5-0, Apr. 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Apr 28, 2026
Campaign site says he has fought to keep taxes stable.
“Russell has fought to keep taxes stable”
Own statementRuss & Ryan 2026 campaign site
Public comment2 sourced positions
Voted no on a motion to restore a second public-comment session at council meetings (failed 2-3, Apr. 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Apr 28, 2026
Voted no on a motion to restore a second public-comment session at council meetings (failed 2-3, July 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Jul 14, 2026
Basketball courts1 sourced position
Voted yes on the resolution accepting a $150,000 county matching grant for basketball courts (passed 3-3 with the mayor breaking the tie, Apr. 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Apr 14, 2026
Police contract1 sourced position
Voted yes to ratify the 2025-2029 contract with Oakland PBA Local 164 (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Jul 14, 2026
Affordable housing2 sourced positions
Voted yes to designate Block 4202, Lots 1 and 2 an area in need of redevelopment, tied to the affordable-housing project (passed 6-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteBorough of Oakland · Sep 22, 2026
Campaign site says he fought alongside the rest of the Council against the state-mandated affordable housing requirements.
“fought alongside the rest of the Council against the state mandated affordable housing requirements”
Own statementRuss & Ryan 2026 campaign site
Trash collection1 sourced position
Campaign site says he made the decision to switch garbage collectors, which it says saves the Borough $1.4 million over the contract.
“made the tough decision to switch garbage collectors but in doing so, save the Borough $1.4 million over the length of the contract”
Own statementRuss & Ryan 2026 campaign site
What Russell Talamini said vs. how Russell Talamini voted
Property taxes and budget
In their words
Campaign site says he has fought to keep taxes stable.
On the record
Voted yes to adopt the 2026 municipal budget (passed 5-0, Apr. 2026).
Apr 28, 2026 ·Borough of Oakland · Apr 28, 2026
Also running for Borough Council
All 4 Oakland candidates →Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
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