OLD TAPPAN, N.J.—A recount of votes will soon take place in a dead-even write-in election for an unexpired two-year term representing Old Tappan on the Northern Valley Regional District Board of Education.
The two write-in candidates for the seat—Kathy Fable and Sheila Maier—ended up tied at 166 votes apiece after election results were certified Nov. 19 by the Board of County Canvassers, which includes County Clerk John Hogan.
Fable’s certified vote totals showed 107 machine ballots, 57 mail-in ballots, and nine provisional ballots for 166 total votes.
Maier’s certified vote totals showed 157 machine ballots, seven mail-in ballots and two provisional ballots totalling 166 total votes.
Bergen County Clerk’s Office Elections Division Supervisor Sabrina Taranto said that a Dec. 2 hearing before Bergen County Judge Estela M. de la Cruz will determine the date on which the recount will be conducted.
Fable, a former regional district BOE member, said she was told by the Board of Elections on Nov. 15 that her election had been certified and she had bested write-in challenger Sheila Maier by 15 votes.
Later, District BOE President Joseph Argenziano told Northern Valley Press that Sheila Maier had been declared victor in the Nov. 5 election by the Board of Elections, not Fable.
“Because this is a position or seat of public trust, our only interest is in a fair result, decided by the voters of Old Tappan. We find it very heartening that there is interest to help support the children of our community,” Argenziano emailed.
“At a time where not enough people vote and get involved, all we want is for the voters of Old Tappan to decide the result of this election, as well as any other, and not by any posturing, resulting in the disenfranchisement of the voters of Old Tappan,” added Argenziano.
The election results were officially challenged Nov. 19 by Maier, whose attorney filed a civil action requesting a recount.
Of nearly 1,200 residents voting on Nov. 5—approximately 26 percent of the borough’s 4,614 registered voters—only 340 total votes were cast for a write-in candidate for a seat representing Old Tappan on the Northern Valley Regional District Board of Education.
Neither candidate who ran had declared prior to Nov. 5, and both candidates mounted last-minute outreach and social media efforts to generate as well as garner write-in votes.
Fable told Northern Valley Press she had initiated efforts as a write-in candidate several months before election when she found out that a candidate selected to fill the unexpired term by the district was not interested in continuing in the position.
Fable said many residents “inside and outside” of the school district had urged her to campaign due to her regular attendance at district board meetings over recent years and a former stint on the district school board.
Attorney Gregg F. Paster of Demarest told Northern Valley Press he is representing Maier. He anticipated a recount, calling it standard procedure, and said that if the results remain tied he anticipated there would be a special election in January, but clarified that any decision will be up to election officials.
