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LINCOLN PARK - At close of balloting, tie in Ward One
(by Sid Johnston - Staff Writer - November 04, 2008)
LINCOLN PARK - As was expected, the Republican candidates performed well in the borough, but one ward remains contested.
When Tuesday's votes were first tabulated, in Ward 1, there was a tie between Denise McCarthy (D) and Herman Nadel (R), each receiving 694 votes.
Mayor David Runfeldt will count the absentee ballots on Nov. 5 to decide the vote for Ward I.
Both candidates ran strong campaigns, but they aren't bickering yet about the results.
"I'm happy with my results, running as a Democrat in this Republican-controlled town," said McCarthy. "I ran a great campaign, and I feel that after surviving cancer, you become more grateful over the littler things."
McCarthy said that she has known Nadel for a while, and has a great deal of respect for him. She said that regardless of the results, it won't be like two kids fighting in a sandbox if the results don't go her way.
Nadel said, "If Denise wins, it will show a trend in the borough that it is leaning further Democratic."
Nadel expected that New Jersey would have unusual results throughout formerly solid areas. In Ward 2, newcomer Matt Petracca (R) won over Jo Ann Byrnes (D), receiving 527 votes to Byrnes' 376. Petracca, 26, said that he is happy with his victory.
"I'm very excited to serve the people in the borough, and it's quite amazing," said Petracca.
Regarding the tie in Ward 1, Petracca said he hadn't seen any numbers in New Jersey yet, so he couldn't comment on whether it's a trend or not, but he hopes Nadel wins since he is a fellow party member.
Ward 4 shows the return of incumbent Jim Wild (R) over newcomer Johnette Mannato (D). Wild received 520 votes and Mannato received 408. Mannato commented on the support voters showed her.
"Given that I didn't campaign at all, and did as well as I did, it shows that the borough wants to change," Mannato said. "Hopefully, we get Denise on the council."
Mannato said that she was not surprised that so many people came out to vote
for McCarthy.
"The borough has been in Republican control for a long time, and how long can the citizens tout the 'number 5 best place to live' title without asking 'has that changed my situation?'" said Mannato. "People need change, and now
that I wasn't elected, the borough would have wished it did, since I am going to try to make every meeting. I have great ideas, so why let them go to waste?"
In Ward 3, current Council President Ray Kerwin (R) received 576 votes. He ran uncontested.
A rough tally without absentee ballots tallied puts voter turnout at just under 80 percent.
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