Editing Wayne, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
Wayne is governed under the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]] plan F system of municipal government under the [[Faulkner Act]], as implemented on January 1, 1962, by direct petition.<ref name=Council/><ref>[http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf "The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012040522/http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf |date=October 12, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], July 2007. Accessed October 4, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the township council. The mayor is elected [[Direct election|directly]] by the voters to serve a four-year term. The township council, which forms the legislative branch of the township government, is comprised of nine members elected to four-year terms of office, of which three council members are elected [[at-large]] and one member is elected from each of six [[Ward (United States)|wards]]. All members of the governing body are chosen on a partisan basis as part of the November general election in odd-numbered years, with the six ward seats up for election together, and two years later, the three at-large seats and the mayoral seat all up for vote.<ref name=DataBook>''2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], April 2006, p. 169.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, Wayne's mayor is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Christopher P. Vergano, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.<ref name=Mayor>[https://www.waynetownship.com/government/office-of-the-mayor.html Office of the Mayor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518093015/https://www.waynetownship.com/government/office-of-the-mayor.html |date=May 18, 2022 }}, Township of Wayne. Accessed January 28, 2018.</ref> Members of the township council are Council President Franco Mazzei (R, 2023; Ward 3), Jason J. DeStefano (R, 2025; at-large), Jonathan Ettman (R, 2023; Ward 6), Richard Jasterzbski (R, 2023; Ward 1), Francine Ritter ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2023; Ward 5), Al Sadowski (R, 2023; Ward 2), Jill M. Sasso (R, 2025; at-large), Joseph Scuralli (R, 2023; Ward 4), and David Varano (R, 2025; at-large).<ref name=Council>[https://www.waynetownship.com/council.html Township Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418234149/https://www.waynetownship.com/council.html |date=April 18, 2020 }}, Township of Wayne. Accessed May 1, 2022. "On January 1, 1962, Wayne Township adopted the Mayor-Council Plan of the Optional Municipal Charter Law of New Jersey commonly known as the Faulkner Act.... The Mayor-Council Plan of the Faulkner Act is a 'strong mayor' form of government. A nine-member Council forms the Legislative Branch of the township government. One Council member is elected from each of the six wards and three are elected at-large each with a term of four years."</ref><ref>[https://www.waynetownship.com/finance-documents.html?task=document.viewdoc&id=8937 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Township of Wayne. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=PassaicDirectory>[https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/1938/637667926512370000#page=79 ''Passaic County 2021 Directory''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309161935/https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/1938/637667926512370000#page=79 |date=March 9, 2022 }}, [[Passaic County, New Jersey]], updated as of April 2021. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Passaic2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Passaic/111517/web.278093/#/summary 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207110316/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Passaic/111517/web.278093/#/summary |date=December 7, 2021 }}, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Passaic2019>[https://www.passaiccountynj.org/home/showpublisheddocument/3366/637678115112970000http://www.passaiccountynj.org/Election%20Results/2019/General/Summary%20Report%20111819_1230.pdf2019 General Election November 5, 2019 Summary Report Passaic County Official Results], [[Passaic County, New Jersey]], updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

Ritter's win in 2019, defeating then-incumbent Lucy "Aileen" Rivera, was the first time local voters elected any Democrats since Christopher McIntyre got defeated by Rivera in 2015;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katzban |first=Nicholas |title=Party powers come together for sole Democratic council member in Wayne |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/wayne/2020/01/01/francine-ritter-wayne-nj-councilwoman-democrat-gov-phil-murphy/2783393001/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=North Jersey Media Group |language=en-US |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529000751/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/wayne/2020/01/01/francine-ritter-wayne-nj-councilwoman-democrat-gov-phil-murphy/2783393001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before McIntyre won in 1995, there had not been any Democrats on the council in at least 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-15 |title=Chris McIntyre To Be Honored For Decades Of Service |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/chris-mcintyre-be-honored-decades-service-0 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Wayne, NJ Patch |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413002329/https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/chris-mcintyre-be-honored-decades-service-0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $12,559, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.<ref>Marcus, Samantha. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/04/these-are-the-towns-with-the-highest-property-taxes-in-each-of-njs-21-counties.html "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105221007/https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/04/these-are-the-towns-with-the-highest-property-taxes-in-each-of-njs-21-counties.html |date=November 5, 2019 }}, NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Wayne Township was $12,559 in 2018, the highest in Passaic County."</ref>

===Emergency services===
The Township's Police Department consists of 126 sworn officers and is led by Chief Joseph Rooney.<ref>[https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/wayne-police-hiring-entry-level-officer-requirements-how-apply Wayne Police Hiring Entry-Level Officer], August 14, 2024, Wayne NJ Patch. Accessed March 20, 2025.</ref>

The Wayne Fire Department is comprised of five volunteer companies, consisting of a total of eleven pumpers, three aerial towers/ladders, one brush pumper, one squad truck, multiple boats, one rescue truck, and one Special Emergency Response Team vehicle.<ref>[https://waynetownship.com/fire-department.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004162215/https://waynetownship.com/fire-department.html|date=October 4, 2022}}, Township of Wayne. Accessed October 4, 2022.</ref>

The Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad provides round the clock volunteer emergency medical services to the residents of Wayne, utilizing six ambulances, a mass casualty bus, a heavy rescue vehicle and boats, and operates out of 2 stations located in the township.<ref>[https://www.waynefirstaid.com/our-fleet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004162213/https://www.waynefirstaid.com/our-fleet|date=October 4, 2022}}, Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad. Accessed October 4, 2022.</ref>

===Federal, state, and county representation===
Wayne is located in the 9th and 11th Congressional Districts<ref name=PCR2022>[https://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/documents/2021/Data2021/Plan%20Components.pdf 2022 Redistricting Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028193337/https://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/documents/2021/Data2021/Plan%20Components.pdf |date=October 28, 2022 }}, [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120165412/https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf |date=November 20, 2021 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105221009/https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf |date=November 5, 2019 }}, New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#40 Districts by Number for 2011–2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714024328/https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#40 |date=July 14, 2019 }}, [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Prior to the 2010 Census, Wayne had been part of the {{ushr|NJ|8|8th Congressional District}}, a change made by the [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]] that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.<ref name=LWV2011>[http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=66 ''2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604153059/http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=66 |date=June 4, 2013 }}, p. 66, New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 11}} {{NJ Congress 09}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 40}}

{{NJ Passaic County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 35,661 registered voters in Wayne, of which 8,538 (23.9% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 11,180 (31.4% vs. 18.7%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 15,933 (44.7% vs. 50.3%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 10 voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-passaic-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Passaic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811011750/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-passaic-co-summary-report.pdf |date=August 11, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.2% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 83.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 54.8% of the vote (13,983 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 44.2% (11,283 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (243 votes), among the 25,709 ballots cast by the township's 37,431 registered voters (200 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 68.7%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-passaic.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results – November 6, 2012 – Passaic County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast – November 6, 2012 – General Election Results – Passaic County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226084652/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 14,803 votes (53.9% vs. 37.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 11,853 votes (43.1% vs. 58.8%) and other candidates with 265 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 27,486 ballots cast by the township's 36,386 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Passaic County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811015317/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf |date=August 11, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 15,013 votes (54.9% vs. 42.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 11,582 votes (42.4% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 190 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 27,331 ballots cast by the township's 35,463 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_passaic_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Passaic County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811014515/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_passaic_co_2004.pdf |date=August 11, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential elections results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-passaic.pdf|title=Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Passaic County|access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.0%''' ''16,252''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.9% ''12,085''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |4.1% ''1,077''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-passaic.pdf|title=Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Passaic County|access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.0%''' ''16,455''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.9% ''15,125''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.1% ''354''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 8, 2016 – Passaic County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.5%''' ''14,180''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.7% ''11,311''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.9% ''763''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref name="2012Election">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-passaic.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Passaic County |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.8%''' ''13,983''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.2% ''11,283''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''243''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]<ref name="state.nj.us">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-passaic.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Passaic County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 11, 2025.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.9%''' ''14,803''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.1% ''11,583''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''265''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_passaic_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Passaic County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 11, 2025.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.9%''' ''15,013''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.4% ''11,582''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.7% ''190''
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 66.2% of the vote (10,824 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 32.8% (5,364 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (168 votes), among the 16,595 ballots cast by the township's 37,825 registered voters (239 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |title=Governor – Passaic County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134022/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast – November 5, 2013 – General Election Results – Passaic County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133317/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-passaic.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 10,246 votes (57.1% vs. 43.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 6,623 votes (36.9% vs. 50.8%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 769 votes (4.3% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 101 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 17,930 ballots cast by the township's 35,321 registered voters, yielding a 50.8% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-passaic.pdf 2009 Governor: Passaic County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822213732/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-passaic.pdf |date=August 22, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

It is the only polity outside of the country of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to officially recognize the [[Circassian genocide]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-07|title=ABD'de Çerkes Bayramı|url=http://ajanskafkas.com/manset/abdde-cerkes-bayrami/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Ajans Kafkas|language=tr|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028180803/http://ajanskafkas.com/manset/abdde-cerkes-bayrami/|url-status=live}}</ref>