GOP Takes Red Bank By 4 Votes

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By John Burton
RED BANK – Monday will tell the tale but for now, the Republicans have secured a majority on the Borough Council by four votes for the first time since 1989.
Unofficial numbers show Republicans winning both seats. Democrats are requesting a recount but are also promising they’ll be back next year, seemingly conceding defeat.
As of Wednesday morning, totals reflect come Jan. 1’s reorganization meeting the GOP will have secured four positions on the six-member governing body. According to results, political newcomers Mark Taylor and Michael Whelan, who are ages 32 and 24, respectively, have defeated incumbent Democrat Michael DuPont and his running mate, Michael Ballard. Taylor was the highest vote-getter securing 1,029, with running mate Whelan receiving 963. DuPont is currently at 959 and Ballard with 925.
According to the borough clerk on Wednesday, those totals do not reflect mail-in and provisional ballots, which will be counted Monday. There are 700 countywide and after they are counted, the election results will be certified.
On Tuesday night, as totals showed a close race with only a few votes separating DuPont from Whelan, Republicans guardedly claimed victory and celebrated at the Chowda House restaurant, Bridge Avenue.
“We didn’t know much,” when they star ted their campaign for the three-year council seats seven months ago
Whelan said to a roomful of jubilant supporters. “But we knew we loved this town.”
“We hope to make you proud,” he added.
“In a town that hasn’t had change in so long,” observed Taylor, “it’s incredible.”
Democratic Mayor Pasquale Menna was not ready to concede anything. “We’re not done yet,” Menna said. And his comment had a dual meaning: vowing to seek a recount and continuing the Democratic agenda he has supported over the years.
Republicans were celebrating nonetheless.
“This is the happiest day I’ve had in a very long time,” given the victory, offered Sean Di Somma, the Republican municipal chairman.
Former Republican mayor Michael Arnone, the last Republican to hold the mayor’s office, offered encouraging words to the presumptive new council members. “This exceeds in my heart my first win,” as mayor, Arnone told the crowd.
The mood in Democratic headquarters, convened in an empty retail space at Broad and Wallace streets in the downtown, was decidedly different.
As preliminary numbers appeared to indicate a losing Tuesday evening, DuPont, who has served three council terms, thanked supporters and reiterated his commitment to the community. “We have nothing to be ashamed of,” of the campaign the Democrats waged, he said, maintaining it was one based on the issues and the record of the Democratic majority under two administrations.
Ballard offered a similar voice, expressing his intention to continue to serve as a sitting Board of Education member and with the Recreation Committee. “It’s no fun to lose. The residents have spoken,” Ballard acknowledged, “but I was in good company.”
Ballard was selected as an 11th hour candidate. He replaced longstanding incumbent Arthur V. Murphy, who abruptly resigned from the council and stepped down from the campaign in August. Ballard is one year into a three-year board of education term.
According to former mayor Arnone, this will be the first Republican council majority since 1989. After about a quarter century in the political wilderness, the local GOP has been gaining ground winning two seats over the last two years. This year’s apparent victory, the two candidates said, was owed in large part to “our effort” Taylor believed. “We were out every day, going door to door.” They did run a “great campaign,” he said of his opponents. “But I think our message was a little bit better.”
“Knocking on doors, seven days a week,” Whelan added.
Taylor vowed to unite the town, maintaining for too long there was a cultural divide between the borough’s east and west side. “Walking this town, talking to everyone, we brought this town together,” Taylor said.
Former Democratic mayor Edward McKenna Jr. interpreted things a little bit differently. He chalked the loss of one seat and possibly two to the national mood of dissatisfaction, anti-incumbency and cynicism. This year he called an off-off year election with low turnout, which traditionally hurts Democrats, an anti-incumbent mood, as well as a shifting demographic that includes more new residents all contributed to the results, McKenna said.
“Next year,” a presidential election, with higher voter turnouts in the Democratic leaning town, means a different result, McKenna assured the party faithful on Tuesday night. “We’ll be back and do the best for the people of Red Bank.”
“Obviously, a larger voter turnout would have changed the numbers, in my opinion,” Menna maintained. However, a change in the majority won’t dissuade his views, he insisted. And given how things move, “I can exercise a veto,” he said.

Local 2015 election coverage on The Two River Times