Chesterfield race hangs on 28 votes

Provisional votes are still uncounted

By: Scott Morgan
   The answer to a week-old election question is still up in the air, but could come to a resolution by tonight.
   The race for a single Chesterfield Township Committee seat between Republican incumbent Larry Durr and Democratic challenger Robert Rupinski had no resolution after Election Day last week. After ballots from the polls and absentee voters were counted, only three votes separated Mr. Durr (559) from Mr. Rupinski (556).
   But with up to 28 provisional ballots (which represent votes by former township residents who have not updated their voter information or by new township residents who did not get fully registered in time) yet to be counted, the race could go to either candidate.
   Burlington County Board of Elections officials said Wednesday that those provisional ballots are expected to counted tonight (Thursday) at the board’s offices in Mount Holly.
   Mr. Durr, a 15-year incumbent, said last week that he is unconcerned which way the race ends.
   "If I win, fine, and if I lose, that’s fine too," Mr. Durr said.
   Mr. Rupinski suggested that, should he lose, he would ask for a recount of the provisional ballots to ensure that every qualified voter who filed one got a vote.
   "I would certainly want to make sure that the people who tried to vote and did what they were supposed to do were counted," he said.