The Republican Party in Wyckoff will be having a competitive primary with Mayor Rudy Boonstra facing off with the Rev. Jeff Boucher. The possibility of a primary challenge was in question when representatives of Mayor Boonstra raised questions over the validity of the signatories on Rev. Boucher’s petition.

The matter was settled when Wyckoff’s Township clerk accepted the recommendation of handed down after an arbitration hearing headed by a retired Superior Court Judge.

Wyckoff elected it’s first Democrat in approximately 70 years with the election of Brian Scanlan to the township committee, so many are assuming that a Democratic challenger will have an uphill battle in November. This fact makes the Republican primary even more important as the winner will most likey go on to win the general election. Boonstra’s challenge of the Boucher petition is a practical maneuver based on the Wyckoff voting record.

Primaries are notorious for low voter turnout, so getting the vote out will be key to whomever wins the Republican primary. Brian Scanlan’s Democratic victory is in large part due to the the years spent building a base of support through his work in The Friends of Wyckoff. While focused on environmental and open space issues, the growth of the organization provided Scanlan with an opportunity to develop experience in organizing Wyckoff voters.

Boucher comes to the plate with these skills firmly intact. He heads the Powerhouse Christian Church in Wyckoff, and has founded numerous other groups and organizations. His evident communication and organizational skills make him a more formidable opponent to Boonstra, and makes the challenging of the petition logical.

Wyckoff residents are sure to be hearing a lot from both candidates as they seek to turn out voters for the primary election.