Rahway, NJVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Rahway Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 9

council seats up

3 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council At-Large · Vote for up to 3

City Council 3rd Ward · Unopposed

Voters choose one mayor and up to three at-large council members for four-year terms; the Third Ward seat is an unexpired term.

2 notes on these statements

The Third Ward seat is open for the remainder of a term after Councilwoman Vannie Parson's resignation took effect April 22, 2026; Karla Timmons was selected by the council on May 4, 2026 to fill it. City of Rahway · May 8, 2026

Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe, Jr., Casey E. Granieri and Hope Moran are the three candidates for mayor on the Union County candidate list. Union County Clerk · Sep 3, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

David BrownCouncilmember, Fourth Ward5sourcedDarlene EastmanCouncilmember, Second Ward5sourcedJoseph D. GibiliscoCouncilmember, Sixth Ward4sourcedAl MontesdeocaCouncilmember, First Ward5sourcedDanielle NewburyCouncilmember, Fifth Ward5sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesFuture of the water utility, Budget and the spending cap, Affordable housing and redevelopmentKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Voter registration deadline

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Future of the water utility

Where it standsThe council voted in February 2026 to seek bids for a sale of the water utility, then canceled receipt of bids on March 2, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to handle the aging water system, including whether to revisit a sale.

  • On Feb. 2, 2026 the council heard a presentation on the possible sale of the city's water utility to an outside water company. City of Rahway · Feb 2, 2026
  • AR-55-26, deeming it advisable to consider the sale and authorizing advertisement of bids, was adopted on a consent agenda 8-0 on Feb. 2. City of Rahway · Feb 2, 2026
  • AR-92-26, authorizing cancellation of receipt of bids for the sale of the water utility, was adopted on a consent agenda 8-0 on Mar. 2. City of Rahway · Mar 2, 2026
  • The mayor's Feb. 27 release said canceling bids would give time to fully understand the challenges and long-term implications of any decision. City of Rahway · Feb 27, 2026

Budget and the spending cap

Where it standsOn Aug. 3, 2026 the council adopted a cap-bank ordinance 6-0 and tabled adoption of the 2026 municipal budget.

What's on the tableThe next council will adopt the 2026 budget if still pending and set the 2027 budget within or beyond state limits.

Affordable housing and redevelopment

Where it standsThe council endorsed the city's Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan in May 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee affordable-housing projects and redevelopment under the endorsed plan.

  • AR-122-26, endorsing the Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, was adopted on a consent agenda 8-0 on May 4, 2026. City of Rahway · May 4, 2026
  • AR-107-26 waived permit and water and sewer fees for the Esterbrook and Glendenning Homes redevelopment projects to advance affordable housing goals; it was on the Apr. 6, 2026 consent agenda (7-0). City of Rahway · Apr 6, 2026

Flood protection

Where it standsThe Hamilton Stage flood hardening project was re-bid and awarded, and in August the council authorized a claim against the winning bidder's bid bond.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee flood-hardening and stream projects and their funding.

Public input on major decisions

Where it standsResidents pressed the council at the Feb. 2 and Mar. 2, 2026 meetings over the water decision and the closed session held on it.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how much public process precedes major decisions.

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. What should Rahway do with its water utility?

  2. 2. How should Rahway use the state limit on municipal budget growth?

  3. 3. How should Rahway meet its state affordable-housing obligation?

  4. 4. How should Rahway prioritize flood protection?

  5. 5. How should the city involve residents in major decisions?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): David Brown, Darlene Eastman, Joseph D. Gibilisco, Al Montesdeoca, Danielle Newbury4 on this ballot

9 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

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