BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
WESTWOOD, N.J.—The “Always Westwood” Republican ticket of Ray Arroyo and Alyssa Dawson is contesting the results of the Nov. 6 council election, confirming to Pascack Press on Nov. 20 that they have prepared to file for a manual recount.
Four votes separated two-term incumbent Arroyo (2,399) and councilman-elect James Whelan (2,403) after Bergen County election officials tallied provisional ballots Saturday, Nov. 17.
The county certified Whelan with a 0.08 percent advantage, Arroyo noted.
On Election Day, challenger Jodi Murphy, a longtime town volunteer, defeated incumbent Dawson, 2,604 to 2,295.
In May, Dawson, then 24, was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Peter Grefrath.
In August she introduced a controversial blanket ban on marijuana, which passed with police and Board of Health support and survived Mayor John Birkner Jr.’s veto over process.
Both Arroyo and Dawson were absent Nov. 20 from the first meeting of the mayor and council post election. Reached afterward, Arroyo said, “Alyssa and I were at the attorney’s office tonight preparing the recount filing.”
State law gives candidates 15 days following the election to apply to a Superior Court judge for a recount, if they believe there has been an error in counting the ballots.
Challengers need to come up with 10 voters who have reason to believe that an error has been so made.
“I’m sure if Whelan were upside down by four votes his people would insist he do the same,” he said.
He added that the campaign would file by Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. and pay for the recount. A date will be set if a judge so decrees.
Asked whether Dawson was hoping to gain ground as well, Arroyo said, “Alyssa is in this ‘til the end for our ticket. And participating in the process involved in challenging election results this close is a valuable learning experience for all candidates.”
Reached for comment Nov. 21, Whelan said he entirely understood the move.
“I assumed that a recount would happen. I would hope that if it were the other way around my party would want a recount,” he said.
Murphy agreed as well.
“Less than 10 votes separated Whelan and Arroyo. I think anyone in that position would want a recount,” she said.
Of winning his bid for election, Whelan said, “It means the absolute world to me that the residents of Westwood trusted me with a council seat. I put my heart and soul into everthing that this means to me. I am Westwood. There isn’t a single thing that I wouldn’t do for this town.”
The official votes, which the Bergen County Clerk posted Nov. 20, are as follows: Of 7,331 registered voters, 5,095 cast ballots for a 69.5 percent turnout. One voter lodged a personal choice ballot.
- Murphy: 2,604, from 2,278 regular votes, 276 mail-in votes, and 50 provisional votes.
- Whelan: 2,403, from 2,103 regular votes, 255 mail-in votes, and 45 provisional votes.
- Arroyo: 2,399, from 2,126 regular votes, 227 mail-in votes, and 46 provisional votes.
- Dawson: 2,295, from 2,022 regular votes, 225 mail-in votes, and 48 provisional votes.