NORWOOD, N.J.—When all the votes were tallied, nearly a week after the Nov. 5 election, it was 16 votes that provided a margin of victory for incumbent Republican Mayor James Barsa over Democratic challenger Annie Hausmann.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, state Senator Gerald Cardinale (D-39) administered the oaths of office to reelected incumbent Republican Mayor Barsa, along with incumbent Councilman Anthony Foschino.
Reelected Councilman John J. Rooney, a Democrat, was sworn in by Democratic County Clerk John J. Hogan.
In a close race, with initial vote counts showing only an eight-vote difference, the final county-certified election results were 945 votes for Barsa and 929 for Democratic challenger Hausmann, following final totals of provisional and mail-in ballots.
Hausmann had challenged Barsa’s stewardship of a long-delayed development project at 521-525 Livingston Ave., at one point calling the unfinished project an “eyesore” and a “nightmare.”
Following the election, Barsa said he felt the negative attention paid to Livingston Street development delays definitely affected the mayoral race.
Barsa called Hausmann’s criticism of the delayed project “a political move on their part” but was glad he had won reeelection as mayor.
Construction on the mixed- use retail-residential complex in downtown Norwood began in 2012, but for years the site sat idle due to problems experienced by its developer, Daibes Enterprises.
Following a June 2019 public meeting called by Barsa—following criticism by Hausmann—Barsa and borough attorney Robert Regan challenged the developer with a potential lawsuit for default under its developer’s agreement should work not commence.
Soon after the meeting, the developer appears to have made steady progress on the site, according to local officials.