A trio of Bridgeton school board candidates lost a lawsuit demanding a redraw of the town’s ballot on Tuesday.
Dionne Edwards, Markida Taylor, and Damita White-Morris, part of the “Team Impact” school board slate in Bridgeton, argued they were not properly notified of the existence of an Aug. 30 redraw that moved them from the top slots to lower slots. The three candidates had received preferential placement on a prior Aug. 12 drawing, which placed them first, second, and third; the redraw, meanwhile, placed them second, fourth, and fifth.
Cumberland officials redrew the entire ballot on Aug. 30 while facing a different lawsuit. The Cumberland GOP filed suit against the Democratic-controlled Clerk’s Office last month because of a switch away from the party line, and the office signaled it would conduct a redraw soon after.
“The hearing was held on September 17th at 2:00 pm by The Honorable James R. Swift,” read a statement from the Cumberland County Clerk’s Office. “After hearing from plaintiff’s and Clerk’s counsel the Judge denied the plaintiffs relief that they requested in re-issuing the Bridgeton Ballots.”