Repubicans request investigation into close election
By: Molly Petrilla
SPRINGFIELD A trio of defeated Republican primary candidates have decided to challenge the outcome of the close June 6 primary election and want the votes from three polling sites recounted.
On Wednesday, the deadline to file for a recount, Linda Lovenduski planned to bring a letter to the Burlington County Superior Court on behalf of herself and her running mates, William Hogan and James Specca. The letter requests an investigation into the election that extinguished their chance to run on the Republican ticket for the three three-year Township Council seats in November.
Ms. Lovenduski said she listed several circumstances she believes provide adequate grounds for a recount.
First, she said, the voting booth in Jacksonville Community Center on Jacksonville-Jobstown Road had a bad button that fell out "at least five times."
In addition, she said the challengers never received printouts from the voting booths in the Juliustown Fire Company on Lewistown Road or the Springfield Municipal Building on Jacksonville-Jobstown Road.
"We’d at least like those for the record," she added.
If the county judge agrees that these concerns are adequate, then a recount of the votes cast in all three locations can occur.
And in the race that put Ms. Lovenduski (418 votes), Mr. Hogan (407 votes) and Mr. Specca (414 votes) just a few dozen votes behind GOP incumbents Denis McDaniel (461), Peter Sobotka (454) and Dick Toone (463), every ballot counts.
"I’m glad that we’re going to do this," Ms. Lovenduski said. "Whether there’s going to be a recount or not, I don’t know. Whether we have enough information or reason to do so, I’m not sure. All we can do is submit the challenge and wait for the judge’s approval."
However, Ms. Lovenduski said that she is wary of their odds, primarily because she and her running mates will not have a lawyer to bring their case to the judge’s attention. Though the three challengers initially hoped to obtain legal representation, they found many lawyers who were unable to work on their behalf due to various conflicts of interest.
In addition, the attorney the group was able to secure wanted approximately $2,500 to start with money Ms. Lovenduski said was no longer left in the candidates’ budget.
"I’ve heard that the application for a recount may not be reviewed without proper counsel," she said, "but we hope that our application meets the criteria for a recount."