Dems lead in Mullica, but absentee mail in ballots may decide it

From the Press of Atlantic City, 11/04/09-Rob Spahr, Staff Writer

MULLICA TOWNSHIP - The polls closed with the Democratic candidates for the two open Township Committee seats in the lead. But with an estimated 125 absentee and provisional ballots still to be counted, none of the candidates were willing to accept victory - or defeat.

Longtime Republican Committeewomen Kathy Chasey is trailing Democratic challengers Anthony M. Gabris by 13 votes and Susan Polk by 51. And former Committeeman Bruce Crowe trails Chasey - his running mate on the Republican ticket - by 31 votes.

Chasey, who has been on the Township Committee since 1996, said she wouldn't challenge the election results if she is still trailing after the additional ballots are tallied.

"A win is a win. Someone has to win, and someone has to lose. We'll see what happens when all the votes are counted," said Chasey, adding that there were 115 absentee ballots and 10 provisional ballots still to be counted. "It could be at least a week until that happens."

Chasey said she would not lose sleep while waiting for the final results.

"I wish I could tell you that I would be waiting on pins and needles, but I won't be," she said. "I take much more satisfaction and joy from my personal life than anything else."

Meanwhile, the Democrats said they are cautiously optimistic that they will be declared the victors.

"I don't want to count my chickens before they are hatched," said Polk, who received the most votes in her first time running for elected office. "This is far bigger than me. (If I am elected) I feel that it was because of all the people who were behind me and believed in me. I am very, very excited to serve this community."

Gabris said he felt that he was going to lose the election when he left the voting booth, but that as the night went on people kept calling him with good news.

"I'm cautiously happy, but there are still write-in votes out there," Gabris said. "But I am happy that my running mate (Polk) got in. That's a definite. At least (the Democratic Party) will get the majority back no matter what happens."

The Republicans currently hold at 3-2 majority on the five person committee. The Democrats held that same advantage earlier this year, until Deputy Mayor William Kennedy changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in April.