By John Burton
RED BANK – With the provisional ballots totaled and with plans for the Monmouth County clerk’s office to certify the election results Thursday, the borough council appears poised to have a new member come Jan. 1.
Come the New Year, the council will have a 4-2 split between Democrats and Republicans.
The unofficial tallies, following Monday’s count of provisional ballots, had Republican challenger Linda D. Schwabenbauer as top vote-getter in the Nov. 4 election for the two council seats.
In her first run for elected office, Schwabenbauer garnered 1,305 votes, securing her place on the dais for the next three years. Coming in a close second was Democrat Edward Zipprich, winning 1,300 votes, which return him for his third term on the council.
Coming in third was Democratic incumbent Juanita Lewis, who will be finishing up her second term. She garnered 1,274 votes while Republican Sean DiSomma finished with 1,205 votes.
Mayor Pasquale Menna, a Democrat who was running unopposed for his third term, received 1,169 votes.
Election night, with the totals a little tighter between Schwabenbauer and Lewis, there was speculation that, if it remained that close or tightened with the provisional ballot count, Democrats might seek a recount.
But with Lewis trailing Schwabenbauer by 31 votes, Zipprich, who is the Democrat’s municipal chairman, said a recount wasn’t in the offing.
Schwabenbauer said Wednesday that she believes residents are looking for a change and different voices to represent them.
“I’m brand new to this but the fact that I won says more about the voters than it does about me,” she said.
The Monmouth County Clerk was scheduled to certify the election at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, after press time.
