HOLMDEL – Independent candidate Prakash Santhana has been elected to the Holmdel Township Committee following a recount of votes for the Nov. 5 general election.
The results of the election were confirmed official as of Dec. 6.
Following the Nov. 5 general election, it was believed that Santhana’s running mate, Independent candidate Cathy Weber, and Republican candidate Chiung-yin Cheng Liu, were elected to three-year terms on the Holmdel Township Committee.
According to official election results posted by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, Weber received 2,164 votes, Liu recorded 2,082 votes, Santhana collected 2,079 votes and Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds gained 2,063 votes.
Following the recount it was confirmed that Weber received 2,170 votes, Santhana registered 2,087 votes, Liu received 2,085 votes and Hinds gained 2,066 votes.
Representatives from Santhana and Weber’s campaign sent out the following statement after the recount
“We are extremely thrilled that after a lengthy recount by the Board of Elections, the certified results now show both of us as the winners of the election – the first time that independent candidates have won in Holmdel in more than 25 years. We want to thank all of our supporters throughout the campaign and especially during the recount phase.”
Liu could not be reached for comment at this time.
Weber and Santhana were seeking their first terms on the township committee. Hinds was seeking his fourth term on the Township Committee and Liu was seeking her first term on the Township Committee after serving three terms on the Holmdel Board of Education.