Ferrera wins re-election; Nisivoccia leads for second seat

Martin trails by six votes; provisional ballots will be counted Monday by the county election board.

By: Melissa Edmond
   Republican Anthony Ferrera won re-election to the Township Committee, but just six votes are separating Republican Lisa Nisivoccia and Democrat Sonya Martin for the second seat.
   With more than 11,000 votes cast, Mr. Ferrera received 5,658 to handily win re-election.
   "I’m extremely excited especially with just how the campaign has turned in the past two weeks with the negative campaigning against me. I’m happy the residents saw through that," Mr. Ferrera said Tuesday night. "I’m extremely happy to do all the work I’ve been doing since March 2004 for the community."
   However, Republican Lisa Nisivoccia and Democrat Sonya Martin are separated by just six votes — 5,594 to 5,588. Democrat Dale Gordon received 5,466.
   The totals include about 400 absentee ballots but not provisional votes, which will be counted Monday by the Somerset County election board. Township Administrator Kevin Davis said the election numbers are subject to change. He said the township doesn’t know how many provisional ballots there are.
   "I am totally ecstatic and I’m looking forward to joining the Township Committee in January. I feel very confident that I’ll still win after the provisional ballots have been counted," Ms. Nisivoccia said, showing no sign of worry. "I’m excited to make the township a better place to live."
   Ms. Martin said that the winner can’t be determined until the provisional ballots are counted.
   "I’m waiting until Monday to find out what the final outcome is after the provisional ballots have been counted," she said.
   Last year, committee candidates Paul Drake and Tony Gwiazdowski were locked in a similarly close election battle, with Mr. Drake leading by 25 votes out of more than 16,000 on election night.
   After counting 150 provisional ballots, of which 85 were allowed, Mr. Drake gained an additional seven votes.