NORWOOD, N.J.—Incumbent Republican Norwood Mayor James Barsa held onto a slim lead to defeat Democratic challenger Annie Hausmann in a razor-thin election, despite Hausmann tallying more provisional votes.
Hausmann garnered 31 provisional votes and Barsa totaled 18 provisional votes.
Overall, according to official election counts, Barsa still bested Hausmann when totals for mail-in ballots and provisional ballots are counted, beating Hausmann 135 votes to 127 votes.
Prior to provisional vote counts released Nov. 13, Barsa was topping Hausmann with 913 votes to her 894 votes.
The official tally was Barsa 945, Hausmann 929, according to the Bergen County Clerk’s Office.
Hausmann previously told Northern Valley Press she “left it all out there” on Nov. 6 noting she had campaigned relentlessly throughout town to challenge Barsa.
During a June public forum, Hausmann questioned the mayor’s stewardship of a long-stalled downtown development, originally initiated by developer Daibes Enterprises in 2012. The project has since seen progress, with regular activity and construction occurring.
Barsa was confident Nov. 6 when contacted by Northern Valley Press that his then 19-vote lead would hold up.
“I’m up by 19 votes and I think this will all be fine,” he said then.
Norwood voters split the race for council, reelecting incumbents: Democrat John J. Rooney led all candidates with 963 votes, while Republican Anthony Foschino received 883 votes. (Republican candidate Kate Cerbasi received 873 votes, and Democrat George L. Santiago received 848 votes.)
