The outcome of the primary election is “Too close to call,” according to Haledon Mayor Domenick Stampone when he spoke to Insider NJ Wednesday.

The incumbent mayor, who has served the borough of some 8,300 Passaic County residents for 16 years, is presently trailing former councilman Michael Johnson by a mere 13 votes, according to the Passaic County Clerk’s Office.

Stampone he was not satisfied with the performance of his campaign but was waiting before making an official statement.  “The race is too close to call. So, I’m not satisfied. I think that we did everything we could do with respect to the mechanics of a campaign, fundraising and getting the word out, campaigning door to door, we covered the whole town.”

The mayor had received the endorsement of the Haledon Police Benevolent Association Local 349 on May 31.

“As the incumbent,” Stampone said, “there’s a record out there that I’m very proud of. But, campaigns still require you to make sure that voters know that and with a historically low primary situation, that appeared to have been a challenge last night.”

As the present reporting from the county shows Stampone with 258 votes, Johnson with 271, and 2 write-ins, a razor-thin margin determines who will face Republican Kenneth Pengitore in November’s general election.

Believing there may be some more votes-by-mail and provisionals which have yet to be accounted for by the county, Stampone repeated his decision to wait and see for now.  With just over a dozen votes hanging in the balance, every single ballot counts.  “It is too close to call, and we’re going to pursue every option before making any statement.”

Insider NJ left a message with Johnson for a comment.