Mahwah Councilwoman Joins GOP
Mahwah Councilwoman Joins GOP
Mahwah Councilwoman Janet Ariemma confirmed that yesterday, she mailed a party declaration form to the Bergen County Superintendent of Elections, changing her affiliation from Unaffiliated to Republican.
Ariemma said, “Mahwah seems to be on track to becoming a partisan town, as evident by last week’s Mayoral and Council elections. I felt the need to pick a party; one that I more align myself with. As we move into 2025, I’m excited to call myself a Republican.”
In response, Mahwah GOP Municipal Chairman Phil Ross said, “We are pleased to announce another Republican added to the governing body, Janet Ariemma. Janet has been working with Mahwah and Bergen County Republicans, and has found that our values coincide with her’s. We look forward to expanding our presence in Mahwah, Bergen County and New Jersey as more and more residents realize how welcoming our party is.”
Ariemma is a three term councilwoman who was first elected in 2014, and a member of the Mahwah Environmental Commission. Traditionally a strong vote getter, she was re-elected overwhelmingly in 2018 and 2022—where she topped the six person field by a commanding margin.
Ariemma, a mathematics professor at Ramapo College and SUNY Rockland, unsuccessfully challenged first term incumbent Mayor Jim Wysocki in last week’s nonpartisan municipal election. Wysocki, a registered Republican who is firefighter and retired police officer, along with his three council candidates, had the backing of the Mahwah Democratic Club and County Committee, the Mahwah Republican Club, five of the seven council members, most Board of Education members, and the three GOP state legislators for District 39. The Mahwah GOP County Committee did not take sides.
Currently, Council President Rob Ferguson, Dave May, and Jonathan Wong are registered Unaffiliateds, while Council Vice President Michelle Paz, Ward Donigian, and Kim Bolan are registered Republicans. Bolan chose not to seek a second term this year, and will be replaced by former Councilman George Ervin, a registered Republican.
