COURT HOUSE – Democratic First District Assembly candidate Nelson Albano of Cumberland County upset incumbent Republican Jack Gibson Nov. 8 in a shocker. Incumbent Democratic First District Assemblymen Jeff Van Drew easily won reelection.
Gibson lost Cumberland, as expected, but amazingly lost in Cape May County, by a little over a hundred votes in a statewide Democratic landslide.
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The pols will be debating that one for weeks.
Republicans held on to their county offices, but not by usual margins as less than half the voters went to the polls Pols theorized Albano, in his first run for office, benefited from Corzine¹s coattails, Van Drew¹s coattails, and a general anti-Republican vote, whether anti-Bush or anti-Forrester, or both Sources said Democratic polling in the final two weeks of the campaign found Gibson support dropping and vulnerable. Result: Democrats spent a bundle on Van Drew-Albano in the final week while the Gibson campaign failed to respond.
The unofficial Cape May County vote gave Van Drew 22,453, Albano 15,962,
Gibson 15,855 and Independent Republican George Cecola 9,714.
The Cumberland County vote and the vote in Buena, Buena Vista and Somers Point in Atlantic County were not unavailable.
Forrester took Cape May County by only 1,800 votes, 16,108 to 14,308.
Republican Freeholders Daniel Beyel and Ralph Sheets won reelection with 16,531 and 16,293 votes, respectively, compared to 13,913 for Robert Jackson and 14,306 for Stephen Barry, Democrats. That leaves the five-member freeholder board all Republican.
Incumbent Republican Sheriff John F. Callinan defeated Democrat Robert Hartman, 18,089 to 12,202.
Republican Incumbent Acting County Clerk Rita Fulginiti won her first election for the position with 18,829 votes to 12,208 for Democrat Annie Farrow.
Van Drew¹s huge 22,453 vote is sure to start speculation that he has to set his sites on the state Senate or Congress.
In local races:
In Stone Harbor: Independent Julian Miraglia, former Republican leader received most votes with 280, and running mate Anne Wannen, received 246 votes. That gives them seats on borough council. Defeated were Regular Republicans William Stump, 220, and running mate Tim Noble, 224. Democrat Eleanor Shiel Zito received 41 votes.
In North Wildwood: Republican William Henfey will become mayor after getting 1,310 votes in an uncontested race. There were eight write in votes for that office.
Republican Robert Maschio garnered 1,065 votes to Democrat Brian McDowell¹s 557 for the council at large seat.
For Ward 1 council seat, Republican Robert McCullion won with 696 votes to Democrat Michael A. McLaughlin¹s 237.
For Ward 2 council seat, Republican Edwin Koehler was unchallenged, and got 550 votes.
Dennis Township: Democrats Dennis M. Crippen and running mate Brian O¹Connor received 1,275 and 1,274 votes, respectively. Republicans gave Hans Toft, 861 votes, and Larry Lapidus, 740 votes. Independents James H. Waltz received 149 votes, and running mate Kathleen Bresan got 172. The victory means Democrats will continue to control the five-member governing body.
Other Democrats include Deputy Mayor Ruth Blessing and John Murphy, the lone
Republican is Edward Beck.
In Woodbine: Incumbent Independent Borough Council President Anthony L Saduk Sr., received 360 votes and Independent Gerald R. Sanford got, 359, placing them in seats. Republican David T. London lost with 318 votes.
Uncontested municipal races included the reelection of Middle Township Mayor F. Nathan Doughty, with 3,304 votes, and in Upper Township, Republican Frank E. Conrad will join the governing body with 2,709 votes.
A public question in Ocean City to bond $3 million for acquisition of an historic lifesaving station was defeated 3,011 to 935.
