West Orange November 2026 Election: Crowded Races Turn on Taxes and Development
Patch posted video of the West Orange mayor and town council candidate forums on October 1, and its coverage lists seven candidates for mayor: the six announced field plus Susan Scarpa, whose name now appears with Susan McCartney, Tammy Williams, Joyce Rudin, Brian Rock, Joe Krakoviak, and Phillip Orphanidis. The council race remains five candidates for two at-large seats, including Matthew Dvorin, Jackie Hendy, and Justin Goldsman. With the budget still unadopted and the general election on November 3 just under five weeks away, the forums give voters their first side-by-side look at where each candidate stands on taxes, PILOT deals, and development. I will update this page through the fall as the race develops.
West Orange's November municipal election is shaping up to be a big one. Seven candidates are running for mayor, and five are running for two open council seats. The campaigns are being fought around property taxes, PILOT tax deals, and development pace. The outcome will shape zoning votes, and budgets, for years to come.
Who is running for mayor?
As of late July, at least six candidates had announced bids for mayor,ahead of the August 20 filing deadline. The announced field included these names.
- Susan McCartney,the incumbent,seeking a second term
- Tammy Williams,councilwoman,running for mayor
- Joyce Rudin,councilwoman,running for mayor
- Brian Rock,school board president,running for mayor
- Joe Krakoviak,a 12-year council veteran,running for mayor
- Phil Orphanidis,a former chief of staff to Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop
The council race drew five candidates for two open seats,including Jennifer Stacey Iorio,and a candidate named Bennett,per Patch reports.Certified ballots can differ from early announcements,so check the final list before voting.
Candidate guide update: who is running for council (September 24)
On September 24, Patch published its 2026 voter guide for West Orange, and it confirms the certified at-large council field is five candidates for the two open seats: Matthew Dvorin ("Working For West Orange"), Jackie Hendy ("Leadership That Listens"), Justin Goldsman ("New Energy, Real Solutions"), Kenneth Gibbons, and Micaela Bennett. A day later, Patch reported that mayoral and council candidates will meet for debates and forums in the final stretch before November 3, so voters will have several chances to hear the field side by side. The guide is a useful snapshot of where the races stand, and it confirms the council race stays competitive even as the mayor's race draws most of the attention.
Why taxes and development dominate
The themes driving this race matter to every homeowner in town. Three threads run through the campaigns.
- The 2026 budget is still unadopted.A proposed tax hike of roughly 7.26 percent drew sharp criticism,and a formal vote remained pending as of mid-August
- Several candidates want to curb 30-year PILOT tax breaks for residential developers
- Six builder's remedy lawsuits loom over housing supply,and candidates disagree on how much development is right
What the election means for homeowners,and buyers
Council,and mayoral control set the tone for zoning approvals,PILOT deals,and your annual tax bill.More housing tends to ease price pressure over time,while a slower-growth stance protects neighborhood character,but tends to keep prices high.Neither path is wrong,but they lead to different outcomes for residents,and no matter your politics,it is worth watching which way voters lean.
What to watch next
Certified candidates are confirmed after the filing deadline,and campaign finance reports will show which messages are gaining steam.Track whether the incumbent holds off two sitting councilwomen,and how the council race shifts the balance of power on PILOT votes.I will update this page through the fall as the race develops.
The bottom line
West Orange has a genuinely competitive election on its hands,with real stakes for taxes,development,and town finances.For buyers,and sellers,this race is a useful window into how the town plans to balance growth,and affordability,and neighborhood character.Election results take time to become policy,but they matter,and this one deserves a spot on your radar.
If you are weighing a move to West Orange,and want to talk through what all of this could mean for you,I am happy to walk through it.No pressure,just honest local guidance.
Sources
This story draws on reporting by Montclair Local, New Jersey Globe, and Patch (West Orange). The council candidate guide details come from Patch's September 24, 2026 voter guide, and the debate and forum schedule comes from Patch's September 25, 2026 coverage. The October 1 update on the seven-candidate mayoral field and the forum videos comes from Patch's candidate forum coverage.
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I cover local real estate and development news across Bloomfield, West Orange, Montclair, and Essex County. If you hear about new construction, zoning changes, or neighborhood issues, I'd love to hear about it.