Wayne Council Candidate Dies Two Days After Election Loss

WAYNE, NJ - A township council candidate died Thursday, two days after losing his election bid in Wayne.

Kenneth Tahan passed away at the age of 68, leaving behind a wife, Sharon, and three adult children, according to Wayne Democratic Club President Cathy Kazan.

"Ken Tahan lost his fight today," she said. "We are deeply saddened by this and will share more information about any arrangements when it becomes available."

A longtime township resident, Tahan was involved in several community activities, including sports and coaching.

Tahan worked for nearly three decades doing outside sales for leading computer software companies. Prior to that, he was employed as a Division of Youth and Family Services caseworker in Paterson, where he helped treat child abuse and neglect in Passaic County.

Kazan said, "Ken was a wonderful candidate and a wonderful man. He will be missed by many and we appreciate all he did to raise awareness in his community in his final months. He was so passionate about Wayne and making it a better place."

Prior to the election, Tahan told Patch if he won the 4th Ward council seat, "I will commit to improved pedestrian and traffic safety, economic development, a "downtown'Wayne' and checks and balances in our government."

On Tuesday, Republicans swept council races in five of Wayne's six wards.

The Wayne Democratic Club has requested residents remove any Tahan campaign lawn signs that are still up and recycle them. While the club will do its best to take down Tahan's signs, Kazan said members don't have his lists of where he distributed them.

"This is not something we want his family to keep seeing during this painful period," she said.