Replaces March 6 postponed event
By:John Tredrea
By the time voters get the chance to put Democrat Francesca Bartlett or Republican John Hart on the Hopewell Township Committee, it will be nearly six months since their razor-close general election started the ruckus that has left the outcome in limbo.
The court-ordered special election that was supposed to resolve the race between Ms. Bartlett and Mr. Hart once and for all was called off Tuesday due to the threat of a blizzard that never materialized.
Michael Kahme, Ms. Bartlett’s attorney, said Wednesday afternoon that Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg had ordered another special election to be held April 24. Both candidates said they hoped that voters wouldn’t lose interest in the election because it has dragged on for so long.
Mr. Kahme said the judge made that decision in her chambers around noon after conferring with him and Mr. Hart’s attorney.
"The judge said that, under state law, she had no choice but to schedule the election between 45 and 50 days after the one that was called off Tuesday," Mr. Kahme said.
"April 24 fits into that time frame," he said. "She picked April 24 because it’s a Tuesday, when elections are customarily held."
"I’m disappointed it will be that long a wait," Ms. Bartlett said of the April 24 date set by the judge. "It’s seven days after the school election. I hope people will come out to vote twice in seven days. I hope we can keep the voters interested. This has taken so long already."
Ms. Bartlett added that she will continue to campaign. "It’ll be more of a campaign to make sure voters know the date of the election," she said. "I think they know the issues already. But we’ll campaign, because it’s an important election."
Mr. Hart said April 24 is fine with him. "It doesn’t make any difference to me," he said Wednesday afternoon. "I guess we’ll be able to get that one in it’s too late for snow, right? But I’m through campaigning. I have a lot to take care of with my business and farm between now and the date of the election."
A farmer whose land is on Titus Mill Road in the central township, Mr. Hart also works at his family’s business, Rosedale Mills, on Route 31. "I just hope the voters don’t lose interest," he said. "This has dragged on so long already."
Tuesday’s canceled election had been originally ordered in January by Judge Feinberg, who said no winner could be determined from the results of the November contest between Ms. Bartlett and Mr. Hart. A seat on the Township Committee has been vacant since the judge’s January order and it will remain vacant until sometime after April 24.