5. Mallet wins Monmouth, Dems seize control MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer Posted:01/01/09
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Published: The Courier, Nov. 13, 2008
Whew. It was quite a two-week span for Freeholder-elect Amy Mallet, of Fair Haven.
Mallet finally found out she was officially an elected member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Thursday, Nov. 20, according to the county Board of Elections.
The official tallies stated Mallet bested Republican candidate John Curley by 346 votes — a few more than the 18-ballot lead she held over Curley on election night.
Since Nov. 4, it has been an arduous process determining a winner for the sought-after seat on the freeholder board, a seat that determined the county’s balance of power.
It has been more than two decades since the Democrats enjoyed control over Monmouth County. That being said, waiting two weeks before a clear winner was revealed might not have been so bad.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, the final count was certified, according to the Board of Elections.
The holdup was due to the more than 3,800 provisional ballots that initially flooded county headquarters. There, the superintendent of elections first counted the ballots, checking names, addresses and motor vehicle information. Next, off they went to the Board of Elections, which began its process of sorting and counting the ballots on Monday, Nov. 17.
Mallet was informally announced as the winner on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
According to official results, 2,679 provisional ballots were deemed “good,” and therefore were counted. As for the rest of the votes, they were either “void” or “spoiled,” officials explained.
Taking the top spot in the freeholder race was incumbent and current Freeholder Director Lillian Burry, earning 137,719 votes, according to official results.
Mallet garnered 136,697 ballots, while Curley fell short of taking the second seat with 136,351 tallies, official results said.
Democrat Glenn Mason, a Hazlet native, received 128,488 votes, results stated.
Mallet trailed Burry by more than 1,000 votes. Mason followed the pack by nearly 8,000 votes.
“It’s been quite a week,” said Mike Mangan, spokesman for the Monmouth County Democratic Party.
Although there is much celebrating to be had, some critics have been concerned about the change of political power, where county jobs, contracts and relationships could be at stake.
“The first thing has always been good government and trying to save money,” Mangan said. “Anyone working on behalf of the Democratic majority is going to be working toward that common goal.”
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