Red Bank Election Recount Affirms GOP Win

377

John Burton

FREEHOLD – Friday morning’s Red Bank Borough Council vote recount by the county Board of Elections may have changed the total numbers slightly, but the outcome remains the same, with Republican candidates continuing to  come out on top.

With the review of totals from the borough’s voting machines, the 165 vote-by-mail ballots and 18 provisional ballots, the board determined that Republican Michael Whelan had increased his narrow lead in the Nov. 3 election by another vote, declaring him the winner by three votes.

Friday’s tally had Republican Mark Taylor continuing to hold the lead among the four candidates, with 1,038 votes, with his initial after-election total originally thought to be 1,033; Democrat Michael Ballard was determined to have gotten 937, up from his original 934. The tightest of the contests was between incumbent Democrat Michael DuPont and political newcomer Republican candidate Michael Whelan, which had been just two votes separating the two. Friday’s recount had the totals at 968 for DuPont, up from his 965, and 971 for Whelan from his original 967, indicating Whelan winning by three.

As for the discrepancies in the totals “Sometimes the (voting) machine doesn’t pick up everything; that’s the problem,” offered Leah Falk, the board of commissioner chairwoman.  But given the visuals recount conducted by the board, Falk maintained, “the hand count is as accurate as you can get.”

Rajvir S. Goomer, a New Brunswick attorney representing DuPont, said he will review the findings before advising his client. The election results can be contested by appealing to the Superior Court, County Clerk Christine Hanlon explained last week. The grounds would require the petitioner to site some sort of voter irregularity, such as voter disenfranchisement.

Goomer has 10 days from when these results are certified. Hanlon expected the results to be certified later on Friday.

Barring that, these election results will have the Republicans taking control of the six-member borough council for the first time in Red Bank since 1989, with the GOP in January holding a 4-2 majority.

“We’re excited and we’re happy it’s over,” said Whelan, who was on hand with running mate Taylor for Friday’s recount. “Now it’s time to go to work.”

For the complete story read next week’s The Two River Times November 26 edition.

More on the 2015 Red Bank Municipal Election