KEYPORT – Republican Lori Davidson and Democrat Kathleen McNamara have won three-year terms on the Keyport Borough Council.
In the Nov. 3 municipal election, Davidson and McNamara emerged as the top vote-getters for two available three-year terms. They will succeed Democratic councilmen Isaiah Cooper and Joseph Sheridan, who did not seek re-election.
According to results posted online by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, Davidson received 1,884 votes and McNamara received 1,819 votes prior to the election’s certification on Nov. 20. Republican Suleyman Kilic received 1,773 votes and Democrat Sophia Lamberson, a former councilwoman, received 1,752 votes.
Democrats currently hold all six council seats. Mayor Collette Kennedy is also a Democrat.
After the election results became official, Kennedy said, “I would like to extend a thank you to all four candidates who chose to put their name on the ballot to run for office. I would also like to thank the residents who voted. The voter turnout was high for several reasons, including having four great candidates and it being a presidential election.
“I also believe it is because we live in a wonderful and active municipality with residents who are engaged in the community in which they live,” the mayor said. “Congratulations to Kathleen McNamara and Lori Davidson on being elected to serve on the Borough Council.”
When Davidson and McNamara are sworn into office in January, Republicans will gain representation on the governing body and the Democratic majority will be reduced to 5-1.
Davidson has worked professionally with large and small corporations for more than 20 years. She is the interim executive director of the Keyport Bayshore Business Cooperative, which is the managing entity of the borough’s downtown district. She serves on the Keyport Unified Planning Board.
McNamara was a finance executive for 30 years, last working as the director of fixed income at Citigroup until 2012. She later joined Teach for America and served as a financial literacy and gardening teacher at a vocational school in Newark.