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Hackensack City Council sworn in after certification of May municipal election
Summary
Hackensack City officials certified May 13 election results and administered oaths to five council members on July 1; public commenters praised the new council and raised flooding concerns.
Hackensack City Clerk read and certified the municipal election results from May 13, 2025, and five newly elected council members were sworn into office at a July 1, 2025, meeting at Hackensack City Hall.
The certification named Cassin Gaines (2,821 votes), Agatha Toomey (2,807 votes), Philip Carroll (2,784 votes), Sonia Clark Collins (2,783 votes) and Roberto Diaz (2,770 votes) as elected to four-year terms to take effect in July 2025. The City Clerk stated that the certification followed a “careful canvas of the votes.”
After the certification, the council administered the oath of office to each elected member. Councilman Philip Carroll, Councilwoman Sonia Clark Collins, Councilman Roberto Diaz, Councilman Cassin Gaines and Councilwoman Agatha Toomey each swore to support the constitutions of the United States and the State of New Jersey and to “faithfully, impartially and justly perform all the duties” of their offices.
Members of the public offered brief remarks during the meeting’s public-comment period. Doug Garofalo, a resident who gave his address as 342 Anderson Street, praised the council and city employees for public safety and city services. Dr. Anita Rivers, a lifelong Hackensack resident at 259 Railroad Place, told the council that her community has “experienced extreme flooding” and said mitigation will be a mandate for the new council. Reverend Carolyn Davis and resident Stephanie Padone also offered congratulations.
Council members made short remarks thanking voters, staff and essential workers. At the end of the session the council approved a motion to adjourn this portion of the meeting and reconvene at Hackensack High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. the same night; the motion passed on a roll call with all members voting yes.
The certified vote totals, the administered oaths and the motion to reconvene at the high school are recorded in the meeting minutes and on file with the City Clerk.
