To the editor:
Regarding Pascack Press’s May 3 article “Area Assembly Republicans Call for Probe on Voter Fraud,” we believe that regardless of the 2018 election outcome we stand with the enfranchisement of all those that wish to vote, and the improved mechanisms in the voting process that enable our citizens to exercise their right to do so.
Advances such as the ability to vote by mail bring increased community engagement and in so doing, the cultivation of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
The article is of particular interest due to its rather one-sided narrative and the Assembly members deliberate characterization of the 2018 Westwood Municipal Council election as an example of voter fraud.
The article suggests that voter fraud was as play in the successful election of Westwood Democratic Candidates [Jodi] Murphy and [James] Whelan. While we emphatically deny any voter impropriety on the part of any vote cast for Democratic candidates, we fully support a full investigation by the [state] attorney general of voter fraud in the Westwood election as there are specific instances of intentional residency misrepresentation on the part of Republican supporters that were brought to our attention after the judge’s decision had been rendered.
It is important to further note that several Republican voters failed to answer subpoenas to appear in the voter recount proceedings. This leads us to believe that those votes may have been indeed cast illegally.
Shame on Assembly members [Robert] Auth, [Holly] Schepisi, [Kevin] Rooney, and [Christopher] DePhillips for politicizing the voting process for their own self-interest.
It is the position of the Westwood Democratic Committee that our focus remains and always will be, to put forward candidates who will govern objectively and represent the values of our incredible community. We will continue to engage our citizenry to exercise their rights to vote in a purely democratic process. We believe that by working and governing together we will continue to improve our beloved town.
Erick Martinez
WDC Chairman
Staff writer John Snyder responds:
Erick Martinez is quoted in our May 3 article forcefully denying allegations of local Democratic Party impropriety in last fall’s Westwood council vote. Despite that, he is entitled to his May 15 view that the narrative is one-sided.
To the extent he’s talking about the reporting I respectfully disagree with him: The story quotes the four Republican lawmakers’ letter to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal in which they raise several instances in the state where they’re concerned about voter fraud and mail-in-ballot confusion—which James Whelan’s attorney offered in court was at play in the Westwood council election (and which we repeated in our reporting).
Neither our article nor its headline—nor, importantly, the court—suggest that voter fraud was behind what Martinez calls the successful election of Whelan and his running mate, Councilwoman Jodi Murphy.
Our story questions the conflation of confusion with fraud in Westwood voting and we continue to await clarification from the accusers.
The lawmakers urge Grewal to provide “legal advice and guidelines for the N.J. Division of Elections to issue rules for county superintendents of elections on handling the vote by mail process to ensure a fair and secure process.”
That seems reasonable to me and, I see, to Martinez.
Looking ahead, Raymond Arroyo and Murphy are squaring off for Westwood mayor as Democratic Mayor John Birkner Jr. campaigns with Emerson Council President Gerald Falotico for state Assembly in District 39—challenging Schepisi and Auth. We reported that as well.
Readers are invited to check out our continuing coverage and to share their views.
