WAYNE

Democrats gain voice on Wayne Township Council with Election Day victory

WAYNE — Democrats regained a presence on the Township Council for the first time in four years with an Election Day victory in the 5th Ward.

Francine Ritter, an attorney, was the only Democrat to emerge triumphant out of six elections — one held in each ward — on Tuesday.

Ritter unseated Republican Aileen Rivera, making her the first Democrat to hold elected office on the township's nine-member governing body since Councilman Chris McIntyre, who also represented the 5th Ward.

"I'm thrilled that I won — I'm thrilled with my future of representing Wayne," said Ritter, 54, a mother of two children. 

Ritter said being the council's only Democrat will not be a drawback. "I know that's what a lot of people see," she said. "What I see is an opportunity for partnership." 

Wayne Councilwoman Francine Ritter, of the 5th Ward.

Unofficial tallies on Wednesday had Ritter up by 172 votes — 731 to 559. Slightly more than 26 percent of registered 5th Ward voters cast ballots by mail or in person. She will be sworn in on New Year's Day to a four-year term.

Rivera said she was disappointed in the outcome of the election, but that she is proud of her achievements. For example, she worked with members of the Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse to fight the opioid epidemic.

"I feel very honored to have served the 5th Ward," Rivera said. "I gave my all to the residents. I look forward to other doors opening in the future."

The makeup of the 5th Ward's constituency did not favor the outgoing Republican.

The 5th Ward has the fewest voters compared to any other district, and it is the only one where Democrats outnumber Republicans. The thinly populated ward includes much of the township's retail strip, along Hamburg Turnpike, and office uses on Valley Road.

Ritter said she staged a formidable vote-by-mail campaign that helped to secure her win.

That approach is similar to the barnstorming way Ritter assumed an elected job last year at Brittany Chase, a 395-unit condo complex, off Berdan Avenue. Convinced the condo board was corrupt, she canvassed door to door and mounted a proxy fight to oust sitting trustees.

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A year later, the complex — led by Ritter — is rebuilding, and the councilwoman-elect said her victory there was motivation to seek higher office.

"With all of the good work I was able to accomplish at Brittany Chase, I felt that it'd be a seamless effort to extend myself into the broader Wayne community," Ritter said. "And, it helped me to get votes because people usually gain their votes on the strength of their records."

Incumbent Republicans swept all other local elections on Tuesday: Councilman Richard Jasterzbski in the 1st Ward; Councilman Al Sadowski in the 2nd Ward; council President Franco Mazzei in the 3rd Ward; Councilman Joseph Scuralli in the 4th Ward; and, in an uncontested race, Councilman Jonathan Ettman in the 6th Ward.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com Twitter: @PhilDeVencentis