Nail-Biting West Orange Council, BOE Election Nears Finish Line

This story was updated at 12:55 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Polls have closed and ballots are being counted for the general election in New Jersey, which took place mostly via mail due to the coronavirus. According to early results, as of Wednesday, Michelle Casalino, Tammy Williams and Bill Rutherford are leading the race for West Orange Town Council. Melinda Huerta is leading the race for the board of education.

It’s not clear when certified results will be released in Essex County. Due to the pandemic, mail-in ballots postmarked on Nov. 3 were accepted by the clerk’s office until Nov. 10, the same day provisional ballots were counted. The clerk has until Nov. 20 to certify the results and remit them to state officials.

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WEST ORANGE TOWN COUNCIL

In West Orange, five candidates matched up against incumbents Michelle Casalino and Jerry Guarino for three open seats on the township council. The challengers are Monica Perkowski, Bill Rutherford, Susan Scarpa, Brent Scott and Tammy Williams. Each term lasts for four years.

The council candidates recently participated in a virtual debate. READ MORE: Watch The West Orange Council Candidate Debate

As of Nov. 11, Casalino, Williams and Rutherford were the leaders in a close race. Here are the unofficial results, according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:

• Michelle Casalino - 9,262
• Jerry Guarino - 6,462
• Monica Perkowski - 8,259
• Bill Rutherford - 8,531
• Susan Scarpa - 6,228
• Brent Scott - 4,673
• Tammy Williams - 8,700

WEST ORANGE SCHOOL BOARD

Ken Alper and Melinda Huerta competed for an open seat on the West Orange Board of Education. The term lasts for three years.

As of Nov. 11, the challenger, Huerta, had a slight lead over the incumbent, Alper. Here are the unofficial results, according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:

• Ken Alper - 9,027
• Melinda Huerta – 9,983

For full coverage of the election in New Jersey, go here: New Jersey Elections 2020

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