A second recount in the Readington Township Committee race has affirmed a four-vote victory for Eric Rhoades over Jon Kowal in the June 2 Republican primary.
Rhoades defeated Kowal, 1,217 to 1,213.
Trevor Izzo, the top vote-getter with 1,308 votes, was Rhoades’ running mate. Lisa Routel, who ran with Kowal, received 1,213 votes.
A judge approved the second recount to clarify conflicting explanations of two ballots that appeared after the first recount.
Two factions of the local Republican party have been battling for the last few years. After the primary. Kowal is now the Republican municipal chairman; after the primary, his allies had won enough county committee seats. He replaced Andrew Saad, who backed Izzo and Rhoades.
It’s not clear if Kowal will challenge the results of the primary, or if he will endorse Izzo and Rhoades. Kowal did not immediately return a Saturday afternoon call seeking comment.