Famularo wins 2nd district Democratic Assembly primary by 36 votes

Pleasantville Councilwoman Joanne Famularo appears to have defeated former Atlantic City Councilman Bruce Weekes by 36 votes in the Democratic primary for State Assembly in the 2nd district.

Famularo received 7,501 votes and Weekes finished at 7,465 in a contest that could go to a recount.   All ballots have been counted, local election officials told the New Jersey Globe.  Last week, Famularo had led Weekes by just 82 votes.

Maureen Rowan, a retired attorney, was the top vote-getter with 8,921 votes; Linwood Board of Education member Lisa Bonanno finished fourth with 7,052.

The winners will face two-term Republican incumbents Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R-Margate) in the general election.

Rowan and Famularo had the backing of the Atlantic County Democratic organization in New Jersey’s first no-line, office block ballot legislative election.  Weekes and Bonanno had run on a slate with gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop.   Last year, Famularo came within 688 votes, 51%-49%, of ousting Atlantic County Commissioner Maureen Kern.

Mikie Sherrill carried Atlantic County by a 24%-19% margin over Steve Sweeney, followed by Sean Spiller (18.5%), Ras Baraka (17%), Fulop (15.5%), and Josh Gottheimer (5%).