Candidate requests recount in tied race

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
   NEW HANOVER — Sharon Atkinson, Democratic candidate for Township Committee, has filed a request for a recount in the race, which was tied after absentee and provisional ballots were counted.
   Ms. Atkinson and Republican incumbent Dennis Roohr each received 170 votes after the final votes were counted.
   On election night, Nov. 6, the votes were 165-161 in Mr. Roohr’s favor. One three-year committee seat was available in the election this year. Ms. Atkinson was nominated by write-in votes in the June primary.
   According to Burlington County Deputy Clerk Wade Hale, there were four absentee ballots and one provisional ballot submitted for Mr. Roohr. There were six absentee and three provisional ballots submitted for Ms. Atkinson.
   ”These results would lend themselves to a special election,” said Mr. Hale on Thursday afternoon.
   ”It would literally just be an election for that office, held right in that town.”
   A special election was held in Riverside last year, he said, in which two Republican candidates were tied for one council seat.
   The special election would be run like any other election, but on a compressed time scale, he added. The earliest date on which a special election could be held is not yet known, said Mr. Hale.
   Mr. Hale added that the results were in the process of being certified on Thursday, and were expected to be sent to the state early this week.
   Ms. Atkinson said that she had filed a formal recount with the county Friday.
   If she wins, she said her biggest goal is to get a fresh perspective into office.
   Currently, the Township Committee is largely Republican, and Ms. Atkinson said she hopes to bring her Democratic views to the table.
   ”The goal would be bring a different perspective, to have some checks and balances going on,” she said.
   Mr. Roohr could not be reached for comment.