1977Final results
1977 election for New Jersey Legislative District 17
New Jersey General Assembly · New Jersey
2 seats: Joseph D. Patero (D), David C. Schwartz (D) won.
2 seatsJoseph D. PateroDemocrat · winner · incumbent
29.9%25,962
David C. SchwartzDemocrat · winner
28.3%24,608
Jeffrey M. BrindleRepublican
19.4%16,850
Charles B. W. DurandRepublican
19.4%16,828
James D. NicholsIndependent
1.5%1,288
Robert J. ZednickIndependent
0.8%664
William StewartLibertarian
0.4%382
Michael FieschkoLibertarian
0.4%375
86,957 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1977
Races before and after
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
Joseph D. Patero (D)David C. Schwartz (D)Jeffrey M. Brindle (R)Charles B. W. Durand (R)
Also on the ballot: James D. Nichols (Independent), 1.5%; Robert J. Zednick (Independent), 0.8%; William Stewart (Libertarian), 0.4%; Michael Fieschko (Libertarian), 0.4%