Runoff, not coin flip, will decide BOE seat in Mullica: By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL Staff Writer, The Press; No coins will be flipped. No rocks, papers and scissors will wage war. The school board's runoff election is on. Incumbent school board president Mary Hunt and challenger Thomas Carl spoke briefly at Monday night's board meeting - which seated only eight of nine members, Hunt and Carl having tied for the final spot. Hunt offered to settle the race with a coin toss. Winner gets the seat, loser gets nothing, end of story. "It would save money, time and energy. It would allow the board to move on, it would allow us to move on," Hunt said. Carl declined. "There's nothing in the statute that says that we could flip a coin," Carl said. "I've had people look into it, and it's just not written anywhere. ... I think it should be done according to the law."Superintendent Rick Goldberg said there have been two ties in past school-board elections. One was settled with a special election, the other, informally, with a coin toss. "I guess it would have been a gentlewoman's agreement," Hunt said. Carl was skeptical of the merit of avoiding an election because of cost. "I declined because I've heard from so many people within the township that they would like to see a runoff election. I haven't heard any of the people say to me, 'Do it (a coin flip) because of the cost," said Carl, a registered Republican. "If Mary is that concerned about the cost, maybe she should concede." Told of Carl's suggestion, Hunt, a Democrat, laughed: "I don't think so." Seeing the board postpone its vote for the presidency Monday night further motivated her. "They certainly did not hold off because they wanted Tom Carl for president," Hunt said. Hunt said she has not decided whether to seek a recount. Plans for the special election could be finalized by week's end, Goldberg said. The township may lessen the cost, thought to be about $7,000 to $8,000, by holding the election on the same day as another municipality. That would divide the cost of having a county elections official on call as required. Goldberg said he did not know from what budget line item the extra election would be funded. Both candidates said they are ready to run again. "I don't think I have all that much more soliciting to do. I feel very confident with the people that already have rallied around me," Carl said. "I hope to have people coming to my house Saturday night to talk about strategies and so on," Hunt said. "Maybe even more than when we started out, this is going to have to be a full campaign." Hunt said she'd repost campaign signs she removed after the April 15 election. Carl said he hadn't made signage plans. "I see her campaign stuff go up, mine will go up," Carl said.

RESPONSE: This is a bit scary regarding the intelligence of Mr. Carl. He wants to do things by the LAW...and there is nothing in the statute that speaks to the issue of flipping a coin...so it can't be legal. HUH? The LAW states what is illegal ... it does not waste time with all the things that we do as human beings spelling them out ... that are perfectly legal.

The apparent willingness to waste the hard earned dollars of Mullica taxpayers to the tune of around $7,000 is not a consideration of Carl? Again, this is scary...and raises some real questions about how frugal this guy would be with our tax dollars. SCARY!!! The record reflects that his opponent, Ms. Hunt is tight fisted.