Kearny Elects Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle New Mayor

For the first time in town history, Kearny has elected a female Mayor.  Third Ward Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle, a 27-year veteran of the governing body, won a close, three-way contest on Tuesday night, defeating former Councilman and former interim Mayor Peter P. Santana, a Democrat, and town realtor Sydney J. Ferreira, the Republican.

Doyle ran as an unaffiliated Democrat.

Unofficial tallies posted by the Hudson County Clerk’s Office last night show Doyle with 1,720 votes, for 37.50%, Ferreira with 1,439 tallies for 31.37%, and Santana receiving 1,412 votes for a 30.78%.  These numbers reflect vote-by-mail and early voting ballots.

The Observer first reported last night that Therese Jones is the only previous woman to serve as Kearny Mayor, briefly being appointed in 1938 when her husband, Mayor Arthur Jones, died while in office. She held the post for the shortest time period in town history.  Santana’s interim mayoral stint earlier this summer when he was Second Ward Councilman, is the second shortest in Kearny history.

Mayor-elect Doyle will be sworn-in at 9:15 this morning in Town Hall.  The public is invited to attend the brief ceremony.

In the race to fill Kearny’s Second Ward Council seat vacated by Santana, Democrat Dennis Solano defeated Republican Jose M. Rodrigues, 349 votes to 311, or 52.72% to 46.98%.