Editing Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
Upper Saddle River 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]]. 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]], April 2006, p. 163.</ref> The borough form of government used by Upper Saddle River 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. [https://www.njlm.org/809/3982/Forms-of-Govt-Magazine-Article "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"], [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</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|2024}}, the mayor is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Arman Fardanesh, who is a term expiring December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Jonathan W. Ditkoff (R, 2025), Sarah Drennan (R, 2025), Joanne Florio (R, 2024), Donna A. Friedlander (R, 2026), Richard Lyons (R, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term) and Roger Masi (R, 2026).<ref name=Borough>[https://www.usrtoday.org/185/Mayor-Council/ Mayor & Council], Borough of Upper Saddle River. Accessed June 9, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.usrtoday.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/72 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Upper Saddle River. Accessed June 9, 2024.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=65 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2023>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.gov/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/District%20Canvass%20NEW.pdf Official Statement of Vote 2023 General Election - November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 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>

Mayor Joanne Minichetti resigned from office in October 2022 over issues related to the construction of a sports facility in the borough.<ref>Stoltz, Marsha A. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/upper-saddle-river/2022/10/18/joanne-minichetti-resignation-upper-saddle-river-nj-acting-mayor-jonathan-ditkoff/69571200007/ "Upper Saddle River names acting mayor after Minichetti resigns"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', October 18, 2022. Accessed January 2, 2023."Council President Jonathan Ditkoff has been named acting mayor after the resignation of Mayor Joanne Minichetti on Monday. Minichetti resigned citing unexpected complications in the Lake Street sports complex development and her need to spend more time with her 'growing family.'"</ref> Councilmember Arman Fardanesh was appointed in November to fill Minichetti's vacant seat expiring in December 2023.<ref>Stoltz, Marsha A. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/upper-saddle-river/2022/11/07/upper-saddle-river-nj-mayor-arman-fardanesh-continuing-public-service/69625950007/ "Upper Saddle River's new mayor is continuing a lifetime of public service in the borough"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 7, 2022. Accessed March 16, 2023. "The borough's new mayor is Arman Fardanesh, a 33-year-old councilman and fire chief, Republican municipal Chair Ken Gabbert said Monday. Fardanesh succeeds Joanne Minichetti, who resigned the position on Oct. 17 citing complications with the Lake Street sports complex and personal family demands. Fardanesh will be sworn in later this week, Gabbert said."</ref> In December, Richard Lyons was appointed to Fardanesh's vacant council seat expiring in December 2024.<ref>[https://uppersaddlerivernews.com/news-report-usr-mayor-council-special-meeting-of-december-7-2022/ "NEWS REPORT: USR Mayor & Council Special Meeting of December 7, 2022"], Upper Saddle River News, December 16, 2022. "At a special meeting of the Upper Saddle River Mayor & Council held on December 7, 2022, Mr. Richard Lyons was appointed as council member to fill the seat previously held by council member Arman Fardanesh, who was recently appointed mayor of the borough. The Upper Saddle River Republican Municipal Committee, by NJ Statute, was tasked with seeking and submitting three names to the council, which, in turn, interviewed the candidates."</ref>

In July 2021, the borough council appointed Sarah Drennan to occupy the seat expiring in December 2022 that became vacant following the resignation of Douglas Rotella.<ref>[https://1axils2q1q6t21u6mi1jln35-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/July-1-2021-Regular-Minutes.pdf Mayor and Borough Council Meeting Minutes for July 1, 2021], Borough of Upper Saddle River. Accessed August 2, 2022. "Appointment of Sarah Drennan as Council Member to fill vacancy of Douglas Rotella... Council Member Drennan was sworn in at this time by Mayor Minichetti."</ref> In the November 2021 general election, Drennan was elected to serve the remainder of the term of office.<ref name=Bergen2021/>

In March 2019, the borough council selected Douglas Rotella from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Thomas H. Hafner until he resigned from office the previous month.<ref>Stoltz, Marsha A. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/upper-saddle-river/2019/03/26/upper-saddle-river-appoints-douglas-rotella-new-council-member/3276286002/ "Upper Saddle River appoints Douglas Rotella as new council member"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', March 26, 2019. Accessed October 9, 2019. "The Borough Council has appointed Douglas Rotella to succeed Councilman Thomas Hafner, who resigned in February, toward the end of his third term in office. Rotella, who will be sworn in at the council's next meeting on April 4, will serve through the end of 2019."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Upper Saddle River is located in the 5th 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 39th 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#39 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 05}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 39}}

{{NJ Bergen County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,587 registered voters in Upper Saddle River, of which 996 (17.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 1,840 (32.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 2,746 (49.1% vs. 47.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 5 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<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 20, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 98.1% 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 20, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016 presidential election]], Republican [[Donald Trump]] received 2,350 votes (52.7% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] with 1,945 votes (43.6% vs. 54.2%) and other candidates with 161 votes (3.6% vs. 4.6%), among the 4,510 ballots cast by the borough's 6,330 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3% (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 May 24, 2020.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 2,726 votes (65.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 1,405 votes (33.7% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.5% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,174 ballots cast by the borough's 5,987 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.7% (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/20180926204006/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf |date=September 26, 2018 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 20, 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/20180926203505/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-bergen.pdf |date=September 26, 2018 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 20, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 2,565 votes (58.1% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,788 votes (40.5% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 29 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,415 ballots cast by the borough's 5,648 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (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 20, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>[http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/smaps/2008/electionresults2008/att/North_Jersey_election_results_88.html 2008 General Election Results for Upper Saddle River], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]''. Accessed December 20, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 2,671 votes (61.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 1,635 votes (37.6% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 24 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,345 ballots cast by the borough's 5,319 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.7% (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 20, 2013.</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Upper Saddle River|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|2,734|2,330|115|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|2,675|2,677|61|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,350|1,945|161|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,726|1,405|22|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,565|1,788|29|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,671|1,635|24|New Jersey}}
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 78.0% of the vote (1,817 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 21.2% (493 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (19 votes), among the 2,369 ballots cast by the borough's 5,699 registered voters (40 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.6%.<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 1,830 votes (63.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 899 votes (31.3% vs. 48.0%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 115 votes (4.0% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.3% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,869 ballots cast by the borough's 5,620 registered voters, yielding a 51.0% 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/20181128164457/https://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-bergen.pdf |date=November 28, 2018 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 20, 2013.</ref>