Recounts likely in some extraordinarily close local elections

Democrats have flipped Republican-held council seats in Northvale, Andover Borough, and Lincoln Park, while a one-vote lead in Harrison Township could give them another pickup in a series of extraordinarily close municipal elections across New Jersey.

With ballot counting completed in three of the four municipalities, the unofficial results show margins as narrow as two and three votes, raising the possibility of recounts before the outcomes are finalized.

The closest contest is in Harrison Township, where Democrat Blake Richardson leads Republican incumbent Kevin French by a single vote, 2,837 to 2,836, for a seat on the five-member Township Committee.

One vote-by-mail ballot that was returned after a voter corrected a technical defect remains to be counted, leaving open the possibility of a tie.

French is seeking re-election to a seat on a Township Committee currently controlled entirely by Republicans. A Richardson victory would give Democrats their first seat and reduce the GOP majority to 4-1.

The Gloucester County election report shows that all other mail-in ballots have been processed, making the single outstanding cured ballot potentially decisive.

A two-vote margin separates the candidates for the second of two council seats in Northvale, where Republican Councilman Hovannes Bakalian has 926 votes to 924 for his Republican running mate, Councilwoman Laura Fernandez.

Democrat Jean Marie Cerbasi leads the field with 935 votes, giving Democrats a pickup of one Republican-held seat. Democrat David Sillery finished fourth with 922 votes, just four behind Bakalian.

The results mean that only thirteen votes separate the first-place and fourth-place finishers in a four-candidate contest for two seats.

No ballots remain to be processed, although the results are still unofficial and could be subject to a recount.

Democrats also picked up a Republican-held seat in Andover Borough, where Kathleen Salgado leads Republican incumbent Erin Webb by three votes, 106 to 103, for the second of two council seats.

Republican Councilman Frederick DiRenzo leads the field with 114 votes and appears to have secured another term.

Salgado’s narrow victory would end the Republicans’ hold on every seat on the borough council.

All ballots have been processed, leaving Webb three votes short of retaining her seat, subject to certification and any recount.

The three-seat contest in Lincoln Park has also produced a Democratic pickup, with Lisa Walker finishing second with 1,824 votes.

Republican incumbent Kenneth Foreman leads with 1,828 votes, while Republican incumbent Bruce Dubowsky has 1,807.

Democrat John Gibbons finished fourth with 1,795 votes, twelve behind Dubowsky for the third and final seat. Republican William Cassidy received 1,770 votes, and Democrat Priscilla Ottah finished with 1,729.

The results would give Democrats one of the three seats at stake while leaving Republicans with their council majority.

No ballots remain outstanding in Lincoln Park.

The close contests come as county election officials across New Jersey finish processing provisional ballots and mail-in ballots following the November 3 general election.

Saturday was the deadline for voters to correct technical defects in their mail-in ballots, a process that could still affect the outcome in Harrison Township.