Red Bank Recount Set For Friday, November 20

The results of the municipal election in Red Bank will be rechecked and recounted on Friday, November 20, 10 a.m., at the Board of Elections office in Freehold, pursuant to a Order by Superior Court Judge Katie A. Gummer.

Judge Gummer’s Order was requested in a petition by Councilman Michael DuPont. DuPont is down two votes to Republican challenger Michael Whelan in the current “unofficial” ballot count. If Whelan prevails, Red Bank Republicans will hold a 4-2 partisan majority on the Borough Council. Should DuPont gain three or more votes in the recount, and if those results are not contested, there would be 3-3 partisan split on the Council with Mayor Pat Menna, a Democrat, being the deciding vote.

In her Order dated November 13, Gummer rejected DuPont’s request that rejected absentee (Vote-By-Mail) and provisional ballots be examined and reconsidered.

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon told MMM that rejected ballots are only re-examined in the event of an Election Contest,which is a separate legal proceeding from a Recount. An Election Contest would have to be filed by December 3.

DuPont told MMM that talk of an Electon Contest is premature prior to the recount.

Red Bank Republican Chairman Sean DiSomma said that his Party would contest the election in the event that Whelan’s victory does not survive the recount.

According to Robin Major, Administrator of the Monmouth County Board of Elections,there were 11 Vote-By-Mail ballots and 6 provisional ballots voided in the Red Bank election.