Republican Wayne Township School Board President nominated as Democratic mayoral candidate in secretive meeting

Wayne Township school board President Donald Pavlak Jr., a registered Republican, was nominated as a Democratic candidate for mayor during a secretive meeting of a local Democratic club.

The meeting, held at the Wayne Public Library, sparked little controversy but raised a few questions about the party’s strategy ahead of the upcoming mayoral election.

Pavlak, 64, who is registered to vote in Passaic County as a Republican, was reportedly nominated despite his party affiliation.

Pavlak is a retired police officer in the Passaic County community, where his father served as chief of police.

The move has left many political observers puzzled, as Pavlak has no prior history of running as a Democrat and he reportedly voted for Donald Trump three times, in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Joining the Republican school board president on the Democratic ticket are at large council candidates Corey Tyrone McKinney, 55; Dylan J Orren-King, a 24-year-old who has no political party affiliation; and 5th Ward Councilwoman Francine Ritter, 60.

An attorney with over 25 years of experience enforcing antifraud regulation, Ritter served as president of her homeowner’s association. The councilwoman’s father, Herman Ritter came to the US as a 14-year-old persecuted Jew in 1939 after Hitler took over Slovak territory.

“He returned to Germany as a US Soldier in World War II

Sources say neither potential Democratic contender attended the meeting, although McKinney submitted a video for consideration as a mayoral nominee, but he was asked to be a council candidate instead.

The nomination comes as the only officially registered candidate for mayor with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is incumbent Republican Mayor Christopher P. Vergano.

Vergano, who has held the position since 2002, is the Republican party leader in the township.

In the 2021 election, Vergano secured a landslide victory, receiving 12,819 votes compared to Democratic nominee Arlene Sullivan’s 5,221.

The Democratic club’s decision to nominate Pavlak has raised eyebrows, particularly given his Republican affiliation and the lack of transparency surrounding the meeting.

Club officers, including President Marc Seemon, 1st Vice President Sal Schifano, and 2nd Vice President Al Vigorita, have not publicly commented on the rationale behind the nomination. Other officers, such as Recording Secretary Joan Palmino, Communications Director Steve Parsons, and Treasurer Gary Marchese, have also remained silent on the matter.

Ward leaders, including Arlene Sullivan (Ward 1), Bob Molnar (Ward 2), Kevin Bloom (Ward 3), Gloria Bodker (Ward 4), June Fisher-Markowitz (Ward 5), and Peter Rosky (Ward 6), were reportedly present at the meeting. However, it is unclear whether they unanimously supported Pavlak’s nomination or if there was internal dissent.

Political analysts suggest that the Democratic club’s decision to nominate Pavlak may be an attempt to appeal to a broader base of voters, including independents and moderate Republicans.

However, the move risks alienating the party’s core supporters, particularly given Pavlak’s Republican ties and the lack of a clear Democratic platform in his candidacy.

Mayor Vergano, who has yet to comment on Pavlak’s nomination, remains the frontrunner in the race.

His weak track record and lavish spending have not significantly diminished support in the township, where GOP registration makes him a formidable opponent for any challenger.

Meanwhile, the Democratic club’s unconventional strategy has raised many questions about whether Pavlak’s nomination will gain traction or further solidify Vergano’s position.

As the election season heats up, the Democratic Club’s decision to nominate a registered Republican as their mayoral candidate remains a topic of intense debate and speculation.