Schaer proves crucial in Blanco win

PASSAIC – Yesterday’s mayoral victory by physician Alex Blanco in a 62 percent turnout election depended heavily on the endorsement of Acting Mayor/Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic).

The city is split in half, with the 3rd and 2nd wards on the south side of town and 4th and 1st wards to the north.

In the heart of Schaer’s Orthodox Jewish community, Ward 3 totals show that Blanco earned 1,965 of his 3,859 total votes, according to the Passaic City Clerk’s Office.

That’s where nearly a third of the city’s total 25,543 registered voters are concentrated.

Overall runner-up Vincent Capuana earned 1,399 in the same ward, and 3,656 overall. In the big turnout ward, Capuana appealed to what his supporters identify as the “long overlooked white Christians.”

In Capuana’s Ward 2 - a mix of Orthodox Jews, Hispanics and African Americans - Blanco held his own against the 26-year member of the School Board.

Blanco received 944 votes to Capuana’s 1,050. Blanco also benefited here from Jose Sandoval, who, like Capuana lives in the ward. Overall third place finisher Sandoval (with 2,846 votes) received 988 votes in the 2nd Ward.

Longtime City Councilman Joe Garcia (2,684 votes total) won the most votes in the city’s heavily Latino 4th and 1st wards, but turnout was much lighter in both parts of town compared to the 3rd and 2nd wards.

Capuana, Blanco and Sandoval all competed in the mostly Latino 4th Ward, which is Blanco's home turf. There Garcia received 712 votes, Capuana 664, and Blanco 650. Sandoval received 616 votes.

In Ward 1, where the city’s fewest number of registered voters are concentrated, and a mix of mostly Hispanics and some longtime Polish, and Slavic residents - Garcia won 679 votes, Capuana 352, Blanco 313, and Sandoval 310.

A fifth candidate in the race, Carl Ellen, received a total of 1,111 scatter-shot votes, with his best showings coming in the 2nd and 4th wards.

Delighted with Blanco's victory, Schaer said, “It’s my privilege to be a part of joining my community in electing the first Dominican mayor in the City of Passaic and United States. He has his challenges before him. He must show concretely that he will be at the forefront of needed changes, and he’s up to the challenge.”

An immigrant who arrived inPassaic at the age of 14, Blanco is the first in his family to go to high school, let alone college and medical school.

"Now mayor," said Schaer. "This is truly an American Dream."