In Woodbury contest between two ex-cops who hate each other, it’s still a two-vote race

Just two votes separate two former Woodbury police officers with a history of malevolence in the Democratic primary for a city council seat.

Steve Cope, a former police lieutenant, leads Council President Reed Merinuk, who spent fifteen years as Woodbury’s chief of police, 240 to 238.

Merinuk had the backing of the Gloucester County Democratic organization for the Ward 3 seat, while Cope ran off the line as part of a Woodbury United ticket.

In 2013, Cope sued Merinuk and the city for workplace harassment issues and retired later that year.

It’s not clear how many votes are left to count.

Other Woodbury United candidates lost.

In the Democratic primary to succeed retiring mayor Peg Sickel,  Kyle Miller defeated Jared Hunter by 131 votes, 56%-44%.  Incumbent Danielle Carter received 60% in her Ward 1 city council race, and Dave Trovato, a former councilman, took 68% against challenger Pascual Ortiz.

In addition to his council seat, Merinuk has a county job as the deputy director of public safety at the Gloucester County Emergency Operations Center.  Cope works in private security and is a longtime volunteer firefighter.

Win or lose, Cope may be remembered for his campaign slogan: “Give the City Hope.  Don’t be a Dope.  Vote for Cope!”

Woodbury is a solid Democratic city with an all-Democratic governing body, but Republican Jack Ciattarelli carried it by five votes against Gov. Phil Murphy last year.  In the same election, Democratic State Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez won it by 693 votes.