Red Bank Dems: No Recount Sought

Today is the day that vote counts from the November election become final. And, they will stay that way, since, despite a close call in results that ousted Democratic Borough Council incumbent Sharon Lee, Red Bank officials will not be asking for a recount.

"I met with the Democratic municipal committee (Red Bank Democratic Party) and we have decided not to pursue a recount," said Councilman Ed Zipprich, chairman of the committee, on Monday morning. "We congratulate Councilwoman (Kathleen) Horgan on her re-election along with Councilwoman-elect (Cindy) Burnham on a hard fought campaign and hope that she will work with the mayor council in a bi-partisan fashion as we work to move Red Bank forward in the 21st century."

When the unofficial vote tallies, minus provisional ballots, came in, Burnham was the top vote-getter, with Horgan coming in a very close second. The two were separated by only one vote — 1,292 to 1,291.

Burnham had ousted Lee from a fourth three-year term on council by 25 votes.

However, once the 27 provisional ballots were counted, while they raised Lee's votes by four, to 1,271, the same happened for Burnham, adding nine votes to her tally and keeping her at number one with 1,301 instead. In the final tally, a total of 30 votes ended up separating the two.

Horgan ended up with five more votes, or a final tally of 1,296. And Burnham's running-mate Sean DiSomma got nine, boosting his final count to 1,194, still trailing far behind the others.

Lee had said that she would still stay active in the community after her nine years of service on council. Zipprich, in the stead of fellow council members, thanked her for her service.

"We (also) thank Councilwoman Lee for her many years of service and dedication to improving Red Bank and for her perspective," he said. "Sharon has always worked hard to make sure everyone in Red Bank has been represented fairly and equally."

Burnham is the first Republican to sit on council since 2008, when Grace Cangemi filled the unexpired term of Kay Earnst.