Editing Wood-Ridge, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
Wood-Ridge is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<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''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 169.</ref> The borough form of government used by Wood-Ridge is a "[[weak mayor]] / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can [[veto]] ordinances subject to an [[veto override|override]] by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=September 24, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the [[mayor]] of Wood-Ridge is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Paul Sarlo]], whose term of office ends December 31, 2023; Sarlo also represents the borough and district in the [[New Jersey Senate]].<ref name=Mayor>[https://www.njwoodridge.org/Officials/Bio/mayor-paul-a-sarlo Mayor Paul A. Sarlo], Borough of Wood-Ridge. Accessed August 2, 2022.</ref> Members of the Borough Council are Ezio I. Altamura (D, 2024), Dominick Azzolini (D, 2023), Michael Donato (D, 2025), Michele A. Mabel (D, 2025), Edward Marino (D, 2024) and Philip D. Romero (D, 2023).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.njwoodridge.org/directory Directory], Borough of Wood-Ridge. Accessed March 17, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.njwoodridge.org/_Content/pdf/budgets/2022-Introduced-Municipal-Budget.pdf#page=12 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Wood-Ridge. Accessed August 2, 2022.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=68 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2022>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Certified%20Statement%20of%20Vote%20Book%2011-21-22.pdf Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Bergen2021>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Statement%20of%20Vote%2011-17-21(1).pdf Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Bergen2020>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/NOV_2020_General_Precinct_Summary.pdf Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Bergen2019>[http://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/SOV%20Book%20Report%20as%20of%2012-10-2019.pdf Bergen County November 5, 2019 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated December 10, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In September 2012, the borough council selected Phil Romero from a list of three candidates offered by the Democratic Municipal Committee to fill the vacant seat of Cosimo "Tom" Gonnella, who had resigned from office to accept a position with the [[Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission]] after serving 16 years in office, which made him the longest-serving councilmember in borough history.<ref>Clark, Susan Joy. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/170705566_Councilman_steps_down_in_Wood-Ridge__replacement_sworn_in.html?page=all "Councilman steps down in Wood-Ridge, replacement sworn in"], ''Community News (Lodi edition)'', September 21, 2012. Accessed December 23, 2013. "Democratic Councilman Cosimo "Tom" Gonnella has resigned from the Wood-Ridge Council with two years remaining on his term. He was the longest serving councilman in Wood-Ridge history, serving for 16 years. Gonnella has been a resident of Wood-Ridge for 42 years.... Gonnella will be replaced by Philip Romero who took the oath of office as a Wood-Ridge Councilman on Sept. 18 to fill the two-year term."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Wood-Ridge is located in the 9th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 36th 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], [[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''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#36 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

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

{{NJ Legislative 36}}

{{NJ Bergen County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,764 registered voters in Wood-Ridge, of which 1,405 (29.5% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 844 (17.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 2,513 (52.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-bergen-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Bergen], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 23, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 62.5% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 79.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% 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 December 23, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016 presidential election]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] received 2,308 votes (50.3% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] with 2,120 votes (46.2% vs. 54.2%) and other candidates with 157 votes (3.4% vs. 4.6%), among the 4,632 ballots cast by the borough's 5,952 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).<ref>[http://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/elections/BC-Statement-of-Vote-Book-11-08-2016.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, November 8, 2016. Accessed June 6, 2018.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 2,028 votes (52.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 1,777 votes (46.0% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 33 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,866 ballots cast by the borough's 5,085 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207211248/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf |date=December 7, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 23, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-bergen.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207211038/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-bergen.pdf |date=December 7, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 23, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 2,073 votes (51.2% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,910 votes (47.2% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,046 ballots cast by the borough's 5,038 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>[http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/smaps/2008/electionresults2008/att/North_Jersey_election_results_94.html 2008 General Election Results for Wood-Ridge], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]''. Accessed June 12, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 2,073 votes (52.7% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 1,814 votes (46.1% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 28 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,932 ballots cast by the borough's 4,926 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.8% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_bergen_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 23, 2013.</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Wood-Ridge|source=<br>2024<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-bergen.pdf Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2020<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-bergen.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], published December 18, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2025. Note that these are the correct results for the 2020 general election.</ref> 2016<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 14, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2012<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2012/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated March 15, 2013. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2008<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2008/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results Bergen County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 23, 2008. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2004/2004-presidential_bergen_co_2004.pdf], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,813|2,405|80|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|2,613|2,895|65|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,308|2,120|157|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,777|2,028|33|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,073|1,910|32|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,073|1,814|28|New Jersey}}
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 57.3% of the vote (1,533 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 41.7% (1,115 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (29 votes), among the 2,777 ballots cast by the borough's 5,098 registered voters (100 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-bergen.pdf |title=Governor - Bergen County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-bergen.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Bergen County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 1,146 votes (51.6% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 955 votes (43.0% vs. 48.0%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 93 votes (4.2% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 3 votes (0.1% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,221 ballots cast by the borough's 4,263 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-bergen.pdf 2009 Governor: Bergen County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207010131/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-bergen.pdf |date=December 7, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 23, 2013.</ref>