After Final Tally, Incumbents Keep Council Seats

According to updated election results released by the Bergen County Clerk Thursday, Glen Rock Borough Council Republican incumbents Mary Jane Surrago and Michael O’Hagan are assured new three-year terms beginning this January.

The outcome of the close race fell on the count of 28 provisional ballots, with unofficial results from the borough showing only 17 votes separating second place finisher O’Hagan and Democratic challenger Amy Martin the night of the election.

Martin and her running mate, Sean Brennan, added to their share of the vote with the provisional ballots, but their 18 votes each were not enough to overcome the deficit.

Eleven provisional ballots were cast for O’Hagan, and nine for Surrago.

Provisional ballots are cast when there a voter’s information is missing from the rolls at a polling place, or when they have to vote somewhere other than their polling location, such as Glen Rock voters who voted at Borough Hall during an evacuation of Hamilton School for two hours on Election Day.

Surrago and O’Hagan led in districts 4 and 5, who vote at Hamilton School.

The total results tallied by the county show 2,062 votes for Surrago, 2,054 for O’Hagan, 2,038 for Martin and 2,018 for Brennan.

O’Hagan said one of the priorities in the new term will be reinforcing public safety, including the continuation of an arrangement with Hawthorne and Fair Lawn to provide fire coverage during the day, when Glen Rock’s volunteers are less available.

Another priority, he said, would be continuing to attract new businesses to the downtown and examining the budget.

Surrago agreed, adding that another priority will be rebuilding the borough’s budget surplus.

“I’d like to congratulate Amy and Sean for a very well run campaign and I hope hey continue to be involved in town,” O’Hagan said.

“I also want to thank the people of Glen Rock for electing Mary Jane and I, and we’ll continue to do our best to protect the residents and serve the community.”