28 new ballots in Ocean City race, where incumbent trails by 10

Just 10 votes separate the two candidates for Ocean City’s 3rd Ward council seat, with 28 new vote-by-mail ballots set to be counted today.

As of the last count on Tuesday evening, businessman Jody J. Levchuk leads two-term Councilman Anthony P. Wilson by 10 votes, 556 to 547, in the May 12 non-partisan municipal election.

Voter turnout is at 41% for the 3rd Ward race.

It’s not clear how many ballots, if any, will arrive at the Cape May County Board of Elections today or next week.   If the race remains excruciatingly close after a winner is certified today, it would be up to the judge to hear appeals on rejected ballot issues.

Wilson, the council vice president, was first elected in 2012 with 77% of the vote and was unopposed when he sought re-election four years ago.

Levchuk is the owner of Jilly’s Stores on the Ocean City boardwalk and is a board member of the New Jersey Amusement Association.

1st Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger and 4th Ward Councilman Bob Barr were unopposed in their bids for re-election.

In the 2nd Ward, Tomaso Rotondi won his first term on the city council without opposition.  He will take the seat Antwan McClellan gave up in January to assume his new post as an assemblyman.

Gov. Phil Murphy ordered an all-VBM election to help combat the spread of COVID-19.