Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Woodcliff Lake 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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How to vote · 12 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.
Borough Council
Vote for up to 2- Eric BittmanEric Bittman is the owner of Warren London Dog Products and a former tax accountant.6sourced
- Julie B. BrodskyIncumbentJulie B. Brodsky is a Republican member of the Woodcliff Lake Borough Council.9sourced
- Joshua S. SternIncumbentJoshua S. Stern is the Woodcliff Lake Borough Council president and a Republican.10sourced
- Aleisia Gibson WrightAleisia Gibson Wright is the founder and president of GW Health Agency, a strategic communications agency.7sourced
Voters choose up to two of four candidates for two at-large Borough Council seats; the mayor is not on the ballot.
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.
- Christopher BonannoCouncilmember (Republican); term ends December 31, 20276sourced
- Jennifer MargolisCouncilmember (Democrat); term ends December 31, 20276sourced
- Nicole MarshCouncilmember (Democrat); term ends December 31, 20286sourced
- Benjamin PollackCouncilmember (Democrat); term ends December 31, 20286sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Affordable housing and redevelopment4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted the zoning and redevelopment ordinances for its fourth-round affordable housing plan in March 2026, including a 370-unit plan for the former BMW site.
What's on the tableThe next council will act on redevelopment agreements and approvals for the sites in the housing plan.
- The draft plan amendment states Woodcliff Lake's prospective need is 360 units and its realistic development potential is 131 affordable units. Pascack Press · Feb 20, 2026
- On Sept. 15, 2025, the council voted 6-0 to adopt a redevelopment plan for 300 Chestnut Ridge Road, the former BMW property, with 370 housing units. Pascack Press · Sep 21, 2025
- Under the fourth-round plan, 200 Tice Blvd., the former Hilton site, is expected to permit 147 units, including 30 affordable units. Pascack Press · Aug 1, 2026
- On March 16, 2026, all six council members voted to adopt Ordinances 26-02 through 26-07 on affordable housing. Borough of Woodcliff Lake · Mar 16, 2026
02The BMW site PILOT and tax appeals3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn December 2025 the council approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for the 300 Chestnut Ridge Road redevelopment.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to use PILOT revenue and handle remaining commercial tax appeals.
- The PILOT for 300 Chestnut Ridge Road is expected to generate slightly more than $106 million for Woodcliff Lake over 30 years. Pascack Press · Dec 11, 2025
- The borough will receive between 10% and 15% of annual gross revenues from the apartment units over a 30-year PILOT. Pascack Press · Dec 11, 2025
- In July 2026 the borough agreed to a tax refund of about $295,000 to the owners of the former Hilton site for tax years 2018-2024. Pascack Press · Aug 1, 2026
03The budget and property taxes4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted a $19 million 2026 budget in May that raised municipal taxes $199 on the average assessed home.
What's on the tableThe next council will write the 2027 budget.
- The council approved a $19,034,947 municipal budget for 2026 on May 18. Pascack Press · May 21, 2026
- The budget increases taxes $199 on a 2026 average assessed home of $1,019,417. Pascack Press · May 21, 2026
- The local tax levy decreased 0.2% from 2025, to $12,853,757. Pascack Press · May 21, 2026
- Ordinance 26-09 found a 1.5% budget increase, $190,168 above what the cap law otherwise permits, advisable and necessary, and established a cap bank. Borough of Woodcliff Lake · May 18, 2026
04Roads, sidewalks and fields3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe borough is renovating Major Field, planning new tennis courts and repaving roads.
What's on the tableThe next council will set capital spending for roads, sidewalks, fields and the Lydecker House.
- The lowest proposal for Major Field improvements, from Keystone Sports Construction, was about $374,500 (base price). Borough of Woodcliff Lake · Aug 17, 2026
- The borough expects a Bergen County Open Space grant of $80,704 for new tennis courts. Borough of Woodcliff Lake · Aug 17, 2026
- Mayor Carlos Rendo said the borough negotiated a $2 million payment for the development of the Westervelt-Lydecker House. Pascack Press · Jan 15, 2026
3 notes on these statements
The sample ballot lists Julie B. Brodsky and Joshua S. Stern in the Republican column and Aleisia Gibson Wright and Eric Bittman in the Democratic column. Bergen County Clerk · Nov 3, 2026
New Jersey Globe reported that the Borough Council is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, making this year's election a control election. New Jersey Globe
The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley was scheduled to moderate a candidates' forum on Oct. 13, 2026 for Eric Bittman, Julie B. Brodsky, Aleisia Gibson Wright and Joshua S. Stern. League of Women Voters of Bergen County
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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. Should Woodcliff Lake carry out its settled fourth-round affordable housing plan?
2. Should the borough use PILOT agreements for large redevelopment projects?
3. Should the council raise the budget above the state's 2% appropriation cap and bank the difference?
4. Should the borough adopt stronger tree protection rules for new development?
5. Should the borough add sidewalks around school areas?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineLeague of Women Voters of Bergen CountyOct 13, 2026
- Early voting begins (through Nov. 1)League of Women Voters of Bergen CountyOct 24, 2026
- Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mailLeague of Women Voters of Bergen CountyOct 27, 2026
- General election day (polls 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.)League of Women Voters of Bergen CountyNov 3, 2026
The seat math
4 stay (not up this year): Christopher Bonanno, Jennifer Margolis, Nicole Marsh, Benjamin Pollack2 on this ballot
6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The mayor is elected to a four-year term and six council members are elected at large to serve staggered three-year terms. Borough of Woodcliff Lake
- The mayor does not have a vote on the council but may vote in the case of a tie. Borough of Woodcliff Lake
- The Borough Council exercises all legislative powers, including adoption of the municipal budget and bond ordinances. Borough of Woodcliff Lake
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