The Election in Englewood

In Englewood, as across the country, the voters turned out en masse on Tuesday, November 4, largely fueled by the exciting candidacy of Barack Obama. 11,140 (not counting absentees) votes were cast for President, believed to be a record, and there were waiting lines at all polling places, especially early in the morning. An estimated 83% of registered voters turned out. The heavily Democratic Englewood electorate voted about 78% for Obama, which compares with 81% for Al Gore in 2000 and 75% for John Kerry in 2004. Obama won in 13 of 14 election districts, the exception being District 2 of the Second Ward where Congregation Ahavath Torah is located. The vote there was 366 for McCain/Palin to 233 for Obama/Biden.

In other contests, Englewood voted heavily for the reelection of Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Steve Rothman. A majority voted for County Clerk candidate Testa (who lost) and Freeholder candidates McPherson, Ganz and Walton (who won). First Ward Councilman Ken Rosenzweig received an unusual (Republicans haven’t normally contested this seat in recent years) challenge from Republican Samuel Baruki Cohen, but was reelected by a 3-1 margin. Councilman Scott Reddin in the Third Ward was reelected without opposition.