Mercer County Judge Orders 2 Separate Runoff Elections In Trenton

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – A Mercer County Superior Court Judge has ordered two runoff elections in Trenton — one to be held next week, and the other in January.

In a hearing on Sunday, Nov. 4, Judge Robert Lougy ordered the runoff for North and South City council wards to be held on Dec. 13, and the at-large runoff election to be held Jan. 24.

This order reverses Lougy’s earlier ruling that had sent both runoff elections to January.

In the North ward, Jennifer Williams will face Algernon Ward and Damian Malave will face Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg in the South Ward.

In a statement, North ward candidate Williams said she was gratified by Judge Lougy’s decision. “I asked our legal system to honor the votes that had already been cast and to keep December 13th as the established runoff date. As the Attorney General’s office admitted its mistake in calling to move this December 13th runoff – it never should have been moved in the first place,” Williams said.
“With this judgment, Trenton will have enough City Council members installed to conduct city business on January 1st.”

The need for the second run-off election arose after the runners-up for City Council At-Large filed a lawsuit saying the city clerk’s office used the wrong formula to determine the majority, where nine candidates were vying for three seats.

A run-off election is announced if candidates do not reach the required 50 percent of votes.

Alex Berthea, Taiwanda Terry-Wilson and Kadja Manuel will once again face off against Yazminelly Gonzalez, Crystal Feliciano and Jasi Edwards on Jan. 24.

Manuel, who filed the challenge, said going to court was the last resort “to ensure the voices of the people of Trenton were heard and that the majority would still decide our elections.”

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