Holmdel BOE Race Still Hangs By One Vote

HOLMDEL, NJ — Two days after the election, the Holmdel Board of Education race is still hanging by one vote as of Thursday afternoon. And we won't know who the final winner is until possibly as late as Tuesday, Nov. 12 when the final provisional ballots will be counted.

Meanwhile, two longtime and respected Holmdel Board of Ed. members, Mike Sockol and Lori Ammirati are stuck in a nail-biting tie, with 1,630 to 1,629 votes respectively.

Voters were asked to pick three candidates for three-year terms: Elizabeth Urbanski and Joseph Hammer were the top two highest vote-getters. However, Sockol and Ammirati are virtually tied in third place, apart by just one vote.

"It's unfortunate that Mike and I are in this position," Ammirati told Patch Thursday morning. "I very much want to remain as a Holmdel BOE member so that I can continue to help maintain excellence in education and my perspective on educating every child. I am a teacher first and foremost, and my passion is education."

"However, as a fellow Board member, I have great respect in Mike's experience and knowledge regarding the Holmdel BOE and community so I know we will be in good hands either way," she added.

The Monmouth County Board of Elections plans to count the late mail-in ballots on Friday, November 8 and the provisional ballots will be counted Tuesday, November 12, a spokeswoman for the county clerk told Patch.

Here are the vote counts as they stand:

• Elizabeth A. URBANSKI 1,676 votes
• Joseph HAMMER 1,658 votes
• Michael SOCKOL 1,630 votes
• Lori AMMIRATI 1,629 votes
• Jaimie HYNES 1,555 votes
• John MARTINEZ 695 votes

Related: One-Vote Difference In Holmdel School Board Race