On a historic election night that left a bitter taste in the mouth of many liberals across the nation, Democrats in Bergen County were celebrating. Watch video
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS -- On a historic election night that left a bitter taste in the mouth of many liberals across the nation, Democrats in Bergen County were celebrating.
Democrats swooped in on Tuesday and won a clean sweep of races across the board in Bergen County -- three freeholder positions, and the fights for sheriff, surrogate and county clerk, securing absolute power over the county government.
"This is monumental, what we did here tonight," said Bergen County Democratic Party Chairman Lou Stellato, who entered a victory celebration carrying a broom to seemingly symbolize the party's sweep. "Not only did we win the clerk and the surrogate and the sheriff and every freeholder seat. ... We have the county executive, which has never been done before."
County Executive Jim Tedesco, who was not up for reelection, stood on stage at the Hasbrouck Heights Hilton with his fellow Democrats, smiling as they gave their speeches. He won his own hotly-contested race two years ago.
The shining star at the Democratic party was Josh Gottheimer, 41, who unseated the seven-term incumbent for the fifth congressional district, Rep. Scott Garrett.
Even the man who had been twice elected to sheriff as a Republican won as a Democrat.
Sheriff Michael Saudino said he changed his party affiliation after he said he was "disrespected" by the Republican Party.
"The party lacked leadership," Saudino said, citing his run-ins with former County Executive Kathleen Donovan over combining the county police with the sheriff's office.
Saudino will serve another three-year term. Manny Alfonso, who challenged Saudino, said at Bergen County Republican headquarters in Hackensack that it would be a "hard decision not to run" again.
Maura R. DeNicola, the lone incumbent on the county's GOP ticket for freeholder, said she had hoped voters would "see the importance of having a two-party system and represent for both of those."
"I'm surprised at some of the results we're seeing in both directions. We have strong incumbents who have lost to newcomers," DeNicola said. "I know the incredible turnout played a role. It's such an unusual election. I don't think I could have predicted the outcome."
Bergen County election results show a 66.61 percent voter turnout.
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The seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders is now entirely made up of Democrats.
Incumbent Thomas J. Sullivan was reelected, while Mary J. Amoroso and Germaine M. Ortiz were also elected to the vacant freeholder positions. They will each serve three-year terms.
"It is my honor to represent Bergen County," Ortiz said.
Both John Hogan, who was reelected as county clerk, and Michael R. Dressler, who was reelected as county surrogate, said they wanted to make more information available and increase their digital infrastructure.
Democrat Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th), who won another term on Tuesday, said he'd work across the aisle regardless of who was in the White House. Gottheimer made the same promise to supporters at what became his victory party.
Asked to respond to the resounding Democrat victory, Gottheimer responded, "How great is that?"
"That's great news, but we all have to be held accountable now. That's what I expect," Gottheimer said.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.
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