Pryor contests Neptune City election

Michaela O’Brien, 18 of Neptune City. “Every vote counts…I prove it.”

Election result rests with first time voter

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor has lodged a contest of the November 3 general election in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Pryor, a Republican, was leading his race for reelection by one vote following the counting of provisional ballots on November 9.  In the November 24 recount, Democrat Michael Skudera picked up three votes while Pryor picked up one.  Skudera now leads Pryor by one vote, 602-601.

At issue in the contest, which was filed by Jason N. Sena, Esq of the Manalapan law firm Cutolo Mandel, LLC, is one of the two provisional votes that was disqualified by the Board of Election on November 9.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Angelini Concedes LD 11 Loss

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini released the following statement after the certification of the November 3rd elections: 

“The voters of the 11th District have spoken and I respect the choices that they have made. I congratulate Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling and wish them nothing but the best.

Serving in the Legislature for the past eight years has been an incredible experience that I will always cherish.

I am proud of my legislative accomplishments and especially, my efforts to shine a light on the issues affecting the more vulnerable segments of our society, including young people and individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.

I am forever grateful for the many wonderful friends, colleagues and supporters who helped make my time in the Assembly such a tremendous experience. I thank the residents of the 11th District for giving me the opportunity to serve and I look forward to what the next chapter of my life will bring.”

• Tweet

Novak Concedes Spring Lake Hts Council Race

Nate Novak

Republicans Sarah King and Robert Merriken each picked up votes in the recount by the Board of Elections this morning which was requested by their Democratic opponent, Nathaniel “Nate” Novak.  Novak trailed Merriken by one vote, 638-639 after the provisional ballots were qualified and counted on November 9.

King, an incumbent councilwoman remains the top vote getter at 680. Merriken expanded his lead over Novack to 640-638.

Novak told MoreMonmouthMusings that he accepts the results and does not plan to contest the election. “We just wanted to make sure all the votes were counted, ” Novak said, “I congratulate Robert Merriken on his election.”

Novak said that he hopes to start serving on the Borough Council in January, despite is loss, as the replacement for Councilman Thomas O’Brien who was elected mayor. “I hope to get that appointment and run again next year,” said Novak.

• Tweet

Recount Tilts Outcome Of Neptune City Council Race

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor is trailing Michael Skudera by one vote after the recount

The outcome of the election for a seat on the Neptune City Council changed as a result of the recount that took place this morning at the Board of Elections office in Freehold.

Democratic candidate Michael Skudera (not the same Michael Skudera who is the former mayor of Tinton Falls) gained three votes in the hand count of Vote-By-Mail  and provisional ballots and now leads incumbent Republican Councilman Richard Pryor by one vote, 602-601.  Pryor picked up one vote in the recount.

Hand recounts of Vote-By-Mail and provisional ballots often result in additional votes being counted. The votes are first counted electronically via scanner.  During a hand recount, elections commissioners are able to determine the intent of a voter who may have not completely filled in the box on the ballot sufficiently to be  read by the scanner.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

DuPont Concedes Red Bank Election

Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont

Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont told MoreMonmouthMusings that he will not contest the results of the election that has him losing to his Republican challenger Michael Whelan.   Whelan increased his margin of victory from 2 to 3 votes as a result of an Election Recount and Recheck this morning that DuPont had requested.

“After consulting with my representatives who were present at the recount this morning, I have decided to accept the result and wish the new council members well in doing what is best for Red Bank, ” DuPont said.

“You haven’t heard the last of me,” the three term Democrat continued,”but for now it is best for Red Bank that we move forward.”

Whelan and his running mate Mark Taylor, the top vote getter in the four way race for two seats on the Council, will be sworn into office in early January,giving the Republican Party control of the Borough’s government for the first time time in two decades.  Republicans will have a 4-2 majority.

“I hope the new councilmen do what is best for Red Bank and that they are not beholden to Party bosses,” DuPont said.

Red Bank Republican Chairman Sean DiSomma issued the following statement:

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Republican Michael Whelan prevails over Michael DuPont in Red Bank recount

Bruce Padula, Esq, attorney for the Red Bank Republicans, Joseph Libutti, Monmouth Dem Exec Director, Rajvir S. Goomer, Esq, attorney for Michael DuPont and Bertha Sumick, Special Deputy Clerk of Elections prepare for the recount of Red Bank ballots.

FREEHOLD-Republican Councilman-elect Michael Whelan increased his lead over incumbent Democratic Councilman Michael DuPont after the ballots were recounted this morning by the Monmouth County Board of Elections.  Whelan now leads DuPont by 3 votes, a net pick up of one vote from the unofficial count on November 9 when the provisional ballots were counted by the Board.

All four candidates for the two Red Bank Council seats picked up votes as a result of the hand counting of Vote-By-Mail and Provisional Ballots, which prior to today have been tabulated electronically by a scanner.  The results, which are expected to be certified my Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon today are:  Michael Ballard- 937, Michael Dupont 968, Mark Taylor 1038, Michael Whelan,971.  Republicans Taylor and Whelan have thus far maintained their victory and are on track to join Republican Councilwomen Cindy Burnham and Linda Schwabenbauer in partisan control of Red Bank’s local government for the first time in two decades.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Recounts scheduled for in Asbury Park, Neptune City and Spring Lake Hts elections

The results of the November 3, 2015 Board of Education election in Asbury Park, and the municipal races in Neptune City and Spring Lake Heights will be rechecked and recounted on Tuesday, November 24 at 10 am, at the Board of Elections Office in Freehold, pursuant to Judge Katie A. Gummer’s Orders.

The rechecks and recounts were requested via Petitions filed by Allan C. Roth, a Springfield, NJ attorney, on behalf of Asbury Park Board of Education candidate Barbara Lesiniski, Spring Lake Heights Council candidate Nathaniel Novak and Michael Skudera, a candidate for Council in Neptune City.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

DuPont will file for a recount in Red Bank

Red Bank Councilman Michael DuPont. photo via facebook

Democratic Councilman Michael DuPont told MMM that he will file for a recount of the election results in the Borough that having him losing the seat that he has held for nine years to Young Republican Micheal Whalen by 3 votes.

“This is a close race with a very low turnout,” DuPont said in a phone interview with MMM, “It is important that every vote be counted and the result is accurate.”

Recount applications are due with the Board of Elections by November 18.

Red Bank Republican Chairman Sean DiSomma said, “We respect Councilman DuPont’s right to file for a recount.  We’re confident that the result will stand. We’re looking forward to Mark Taylor and Michael Whelan taking office in January and bringing Red Bank into the next generation.”

Taylor and Whelan issued the following joint statement:

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Neptune City Council Race Tied

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor

Neptune City Councilman Richard Pryor, a Republican, is tied with Democratic challenger Michael Skudera now that the provisional ballots have been counted.

In the post-Election Day machine count, Pryor trailed Skudera by one vote.

Barring a change in the tally due to a recount, which neither side has announced, there will be a run-off election between Pryor and Skudera, on a date to be determined, most likely in mid-December.

Republicans are said to be reviewing the Vote-By-Mail applications from the City prior to deciding whether to file for a recount. Operatives of the notorious Asbury Park “A Team” are rumored to have managed the Vote-By-Mail operation for the Democrats.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet