One-vote win upheld but will be challenged
Republicans believe absentee valid for Dems should be thrown out
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - Democrat Anthony Razzano's one-vote victory for a seat on the Borough Council was confirmed yesterday in a recount requested by the borough's Republican Party.

However, the GOP is expected to challenge the decision based on one of the ballots that the party feels should be discounted.

Republican Michael Trenga, who would be the losing candidate if the vote stands, said the challenge is based on an alteration found on one of the absentee ballots.

"Our attorney believes that it should be invalidated," Trenga said, adding that the ballot had votes for Democrat Razzano and Democrat incumbent Richard Reichenbach, who was the low vote-getter in the election.

"It looked to be an alteration," Trenga said of the marking, "and we will be in court on Monday. We feel that we have a valid issue. We will soon find out how it all pans out."

If the judge does not rule in favor of Trenga on Monday, Trenga said he will likely concede victory to Razzano.

"I think that at that point, we probably would concede," Trenga said. "But I am confident that we do have a valid issue here. If we did not feel that it was valid, we would not go forth with it."

Trenga said absentee ballots should not have any other marks other than the ones indicating votes for candidates.

"What we were told by our attorney is there is not supposed to be any [marks on] the ballot whatsoever, other than the marks on the places filled for the candidates themselves," he said.

If the judge rules in Trenga's favor, the election will be tied, and a run-off election would be held.

"Nobody wants any doubts about anything here," Trenga said.

At stake for the Republicans is a majority on the dais, as Republican John Trzeciak has already won a seat, garnering the most votes in the election. The council's makeup would be split 3-3 if Razzano wins, or would have four Republicans and two Democrats if Trenga wins.

The two candidates were initially tied at 1,597 votes each. A second counting of absentee ballots gave Razzano the one-vote lead the week after the election.

Razzano said the check mark the GOP is citing as an alteration does not make a difference regarding the voter's intention to vote for him. He said he is disappointed that the Republicans are challenging the vote.

"I think it's sad that they are pushing it to this length," Razzano said. "I am disappointed that they would do this. It is clear that they are grasping at straws."

Razzano said the check mark may have been written by the voter.

"This check mark is in the area where [U.S. Senate candidate Robert] Menendez was," Razzano said. "[The Republicans] can see the results, so they find a Democratic ballot and challenge it on what they can make up. It is a shame that they could see what the result was before they could challenge."

Razzano said he was not surprised that the recount resulted in the same total the Board of Elections originally reached.

The county election board's recount only took about an hour.

"This morning, Mr. Trenga shook my hand and wished me congratulations," Razzano said. "Then their hit man finds this thing. I still think Michael Trenga is a gentleman, but I think he is being pushed by those above him in the Republican Party, and I hope that he chooses to stand up and do the right thing."

Trenga said he thinks he is doing the right thing.

"I do not want anybody to think that something was done underhanded," Trenga said. "I am not an election attorney, I am just a candidate trying to do the best that I can here for the people of South River."