Bordentown Twp. awaits final count
By Stephanie Prokop and Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writers
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Candidates were still sitting on the edge of their seats on Wednesday, as unofficial election results in a close race put incumbent Republican Bruce Hill, and Democrat newcomers James Cann and Jason Medina in the lead.
”It’s a very exciting moment,” said Township Committee candidate Jason Medina, who at press time was leading the unofficial poll results with 2,217 votes.
”I think it’s a clear message from the residents of Bordentown Township that the issues that are facing the community transcend political affiliations.”
With 100 provisional and 350 absentee ballots still being counted at press time, the two open three-year committee seats and one one-year unexpired term remained within the reach of any candidate.
”I’m very hesitant to proclaim victory until all the results come out,” Mr. Medina said. “This was a collaborative effort between three individuals that set out to accomplish something a lot of people thought couldn’t be done. If it ends up that Jim (Cann) and I are fortunate enough to sit on the committee we’re going to do all we can to protect the best interest of Bordentown and do what’s right by them.”
As of Wednesday, the unofficial results showed Mr. Hill retaining his seat with 2,182 votes, incumbent Republican Robert Delaney with 2,101, and incumbent Anita DiMattia with 2,148. Democrat newcomers Stephen Monson, Mr. Medina, and Mr. Cann had 2,173, 2,217, and 2,212 votes, respectively.
Mr. Cann said he was “elated that we have done as well as we’ve done,” and even though the results aren’t finalized, he is attributing their current success to “good old-fashioned hard work … and it feels good.”
”We’ve been shut out for eight or nine years from the committee,” he said of his party, “and if we do end up winning (these two seats) we’ll be over the top.”
Mr. Monson said Wednesday morning he is just waiting to see how the provisional and absentee ballots shake out, and will “just see how it goes.”
Ms. DiMattia said she is happy in the time and effort that both her party and she herself dedicated to running for the seat.
”I think I did well with the amount of time I was given,” she said. Ms. DiMattia was appointed to the committee shortly after the former mayor, George Chidley, resigned in late August.
”It was really a history-making presidential election. They said that people were going to be hitting the Democratic buttons all the way down the party line,” she said. She added that she doesn’t have any plans to run in next year’s election.
Calls placed to Mr. Hill and Mr. Delaney weren’t returned before the Register-News deadline.