OradellNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Oradell Borough Council Election 2026

2 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

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General election day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

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The candidates

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

Voters pick up to two of four candidates for two at-large Borough Council seats. The mayor is not on the 2026 ballot.

General election day · Nov 3

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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.

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

01Affordable housing and new inclusionary zones4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council adopted six affordable housing ordinances, including two new inclusionary zone districts, and endorsed the borough's Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee development in the new zones and any further housing ordinances or redevelopment plans.

02Budget and property taxes4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council introduced a 2026 municipal budget of $21,278,841 in April 2026, up from the $21,219,900 budget adopted in 2025.

What's on the tableThe next council will write the 2027 budget, including employee health care costs.

03Merging the Planning and Zoning boards3 sourced facts

Where it standsOrdinance 26-10, which would replace the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment with one Joint Land Use Board, was listed for adoption on July 14, 2026.

What's on the tableThe council appoints members and oversees how land use applications are handled.

04Rent leveling2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2025 the council discussed creating a rent leveling board at Councilman Thomas Kelly's request.

What's on the tableThe council would decide whether to draft and adopt a rent leveling ordinance.

05Pedestrian and traffic safety on Kinderkamack Road2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council's July 14, 2026 agenda included a Kinderkamack corridor pedestrian safety initiative and an NJDOT grant application for Kinderkamack Road and Oradell Avenue.

What's on the tableThe council decides which safety projects and grant applications to pursue and fund.

06Parks and recreation funding3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe borough applied for Bergen County Open Space money to replace lighting at the Memorial Field sports courts, and Bergen County has proposed $107,062 for the project.

What's on the tableThe council decides how to pay for park projects, including any matching funds and a possible dedicated recreation fund.

4 notes on these statements

The sample ballot lists Jonathan Kern and James "Ted" Gullo in the Republican column and Jeffrey R. Stewart and Susan M. Croce in the Democratic column. Bergen County Clerk · Nov 3, 2026

Jonathan Kern was absent from the March 10, 2026 meeting at which the council adopted the affordable housing ordinances. Borough of Oradell · Mar 10, 2026

James "Ted" Gullo was absent from the February 19, 2026 special meeting at which the affordable housing ordinances were introduced. Borough of Oradell · Feb 19, 2026

The ballot also asks whether the Oradell Public School District should permanently raise the school tax levy by $73,118.42 to fund an armed Special Law Enforcement Officer at Oradell Public School. Bergen County Clerk · Nov 3, 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. 1. Should Oradell carry out its affordable housing plan, including the new inclusionary zones?

  2. 2. Should Oradell adopt a rent leveling ordinance?

  3. 3. Should Oradell look for more shared services with neighboring towns to save money?

  4. 4. Should Oradell push the County for new left turn signals at busy Oradell Avenue intersections?

  5. 5. Should Oradell set up a dedicated trust fund for recreation?

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 voted9 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): David Bandfield, Maggie Harrer, Thomas Kelly, Roger Tashjian2 on this ballot

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

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