SAYREVILLE – In a tight race for the mayor’s office in Sayreville, Democratic candidate Victoria Kilpatrick has been elected by a gap of six votes.
A recount took place on Dec. 5 following the Nov. 5 general election.
“I am honored and grateful for the trust my Sayreville neighbors have given me as their next mayor. Together, we will work to ensure fiscal accountability, fix our local streets and roads, protect our open space and work towards greater public safety for all our residents,” Kilpatrick said.
Republican candidate Arthur Rittenhouse had filed a petition in New Jersey Superior Court to seek a recount of the election after results from Middlesex County showed Kilpatrick winning the position by three votes.
According to the results posted online by the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office after the election, Kilpatrick edged out Rittenhouse, receiving 3,629 votes compared to his 3,626 votes.
“At the recount we were not allowed to ask questions about the other irregularities such as the 41 provisional ballots that were not counted due to poll clerk errors or other irregularities that occurred in processing and counting the ballots. In addition, I asked that the Sayreville business administrator, who is a commissioner on the Board of Elections, recuse himself and he refused and made decisions regarding the Sayreville election. Now that the recount is done we can contest the election in court,” Rittenhouse said.
Kilpatrick succeeds Republican Kennedy O’Brien as the borough’s first new mayor in two decades and her term will run from 2020 through 2023. O’Brien, who has held the position since 2000 and is Sayreville’s longest-serving mayor, did not file for re-election.
As Kilpatrick currently serves on the Borough Council, her council seat will be vacated and a member of her party will be appointed to the seat for a one-year term in 2020.