ALLENTOWN – There will be a contested election for two three-year terms on the Allentown Borough Council on Nov. 6.
Although no political parties will be represented in the race on Election Day, four residents have filed nominating petitions to run as independent candidates for the two available seats on the governing body.
According to information posted on Allentown’s website on June 5, which was the deadline for an individual to file a nominating petition to run as an independent candidate, the four residents who entered the race are Linda Cotte, Michael Drennan, Thomas J. Monahan Sr. and Robert Strovinsky.
The terms currently being served by Strovinsky and Councilwoman Johnna Stinemire will end on Dec. 31. In November 2015, Strovinsky and Stinemire ran as independent candidates representing the Allentown First ticket and won seats on the council. Their terms began Jan. 1, 2016. Stinemire will not seek re-election.
Strovinsky said that this year he will not be running under the Allentown First banner.
In announcing his bid to seek re-election, Strovinsky said, “I look forward to working with the mayor and council. … We really have accomplished a lot over the past few years. I want to continue to work on our progress to improve our infrastructure as well as the quality of life for our residents. I’m a believer in service before politics.”
Cotte, Monahan and Drennan could not be reached for comment.
There will not be any Democratic or Republican candidates running for seats on the council. Even though no one affiliated with a political party filed to run for office in April, a Democrat or a Republican could have received write-in votes in the June 5 primary and secured a position on the November ballot.
According to unofficial results posted on Allentown’s website, no Democrat or Republican got enough write-in votes to secure a space on the ballot.
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon previously said an individual would need to receive at least eight write-in votes in the Democratic primary to secure a ballot position as a Democrat in November.
The following residents received write-in votes for the Democratic ticket for Borough Council, according to the website: Linda Cotte, 2 votes (running as an independent), Donald Wood Jr., 2 votes; and Amelia Crawford, Rebecca Bowers, Alexander Cheff, David Lam, Molly Lam, Jeffrey McLaughlin, P.J. Meara, Wayne R. Smith and
Meredith Wayton each received one write-in vote.
Hanlon previously said an individual would need to receive at least four write-in votes in the Republican primary to secure a ballot position as a Republican in November.
The following residents received write in votes for the Republican ticket for Borough Council: Thomas J. Monahan, 3 votes (running as an independent), Phyllis Dutko, 3 votes,
Margaret Rose, 3 votes, Margaret Space, 1 vote, and Johnna Stinemire, 1 vote.
The number of write-in votes required relates to a percentage of votes that were cast in Allentown during a previous state Assembly election, Hanlon said.