Giacomazza Wins Woodbury Race by 8 Votes Despite Charedi Community Backing Calore

ORANGE COUNTY – In a razor‑thin race for the mayorship of the Village of Woodbury, independent candidate Andrew R. Giacomazza edged out Republican-line contender Brandon J. Calore by just eight votes, winning 1,391 (50.1 %) to 1,383 (49.9 %).

Giacomazza entered the general election after losing the Republican primary earlier this year to Calore by about 67 votes (255 to 322). Running as an independent under the “We The People” banner, he faced a unique challenge: the local Charedi-Jewish community, which had previously supported him, shifted its endorsement to Calore. Many in the community claimed Giacomazza had abandoned their interests after his earlier term, despite their role in delivering strong turnout for him in prior elections.

To his credit, Giacomazza had supported many of the small synagogues in the area, helping them run as congregations despite zoning challenges. However, in the past few months, numerous community members complained that he did not answer their calls and had been largely invisible in local affairs. Even with the community’s backing of Calore, he fell short in the final tally.

Observers note that Woodbury has become one of the fastest-growing Orthodox and Charedi enclaves in the Hudson Valley, and the community’s potential voting power is growing along with its population. At the same time, many residents still lack awareness of the importance of voter turnout—a gap highlighted by the razor-thin margin in this election. “This race proves every vote counts,” a local activist said, urging the community to take future elections seriously.

The campaign focused on key village issues. Giacomazza highlighted his record on land preservation, securing a new well to ease water moratorium pressures, and his prior service as Trustee, Deputy Mayor, and now Mayor. Calore emphasized fiscal discipline, restoring funding to the police department, and enhancing accountability and transparency in village government.

With the election now decided, both camps are already looking ahead to the next cycle. For Woodbury’s Jewish community, the message is clear: demographic growth alone won’t translate into political power unless civic engagement catches up. The eight-vote margin serves as a stark reminder of the importance of every ballot cast.