Local News - Democrats still win in Mullica after provisional ballots counted

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Democrat Anthony Gabris received two provisional ballot votes to increase his total to 1,002 and fend off Republican incumbent Kathy Chasey by six votes. Chasey trailed Gabris by seven votes before the seven provisional ballots were opened Friday afternoon but only added three votes to her total and finished with 996.

The top vote-getter, Democrat Susan Polk, received three provisional votes to finish with 1,045, while Republican former Committeeman Bruce Crowe received the most provisional votes with five but the least votes overall with 961.

The votes still have to be certified, which Board of Elections officials are expected to do Tuesday.

Chasey told The Press of Atlantic City on Election Day that she would not challenge the results of the election and said Friday that she still had no plans to but said she would talk with the Board of Elections and the local Republican club before making that decision.

"I don't know. If it were one or two votes, then maybe. But you know, six votes is a lot of innocent errors for the machine to make," said Chasey, who has served on the Township Committee since 1996.

Chasey said she was not surprised with the results, especially after hearing from prospective voters about Gabris and Polk's "unrealistic" campaign promises.

"Obviously you can't follow them around to try and correct what (voters) were being told. There is only so much you can do. You can't be honest and beat that," said Chasey, who said she is unsure if she would run for public office again. "I would certainly congratulate Susan. And Anthony? Lots of luck."

The Democratic sweep of both of the open seats gives that party a 4-1 majority on the five-person committee. Deputy Mayor William Kennedy, who switched his party affiliation in April, is the only Republican left on the committee.

Gabris said he was on a virtual roller coaster of emotions throughout the entire campaign.

"When we first started, I didn't care one way or the other," he said. "But once I started to see the support we were getting, I felt like it was an obligation to win."

He said he would not even allow himself to enjoy the victory until the last provisional ballot had been counted.

"People kept calling and asking me what was happening. But I just said, 'As much as I like to say it's in the bank, it's not,'" he said. "But I feel much better now, like there's a load off my shoulders. Now everyone involved can lay back and take a breath of fresh air."

After taking his breath of fresh air, Gabris said he looks forward to restoring the township's faith in its governing body.

"We may not always agree on everything, but it will never be the way it was," Gabris said of the public infighting that has been commonplace among committee members. "The last two years was a disgrace."

Contact Robert Spahr:

609-272-7283

RSpahr@pressofac.com