Dems Keep Seats In Aberdeen Council Election

ABERDEEN, NJ — According to unofficial vote tallies, all four Democrats were able to hold onto their seats Tuesday night in the election for Aberdeen Council.

The incumbent Democrats are Greg Cannon, Artie Hirsch, Connie Kelley and Robert Swindle. The Republican challengers were Alicia Botticelli, James Eccles, William Sullivan and Theresa Velardi.

• Democrat Gregory J. CANNON 13.85% 1,830 votes (projected winner)
• Democrat Arthur S. HIRSCH 14.02% 1,852 (projected winner)
• Democrat Robert L. SWINDLE 13.80% 1,824 (projected winner)
• Democrat Concetta B. KELLEY 13.86% 1,831 (projected winner)
• Republican Theresa FURMATO VELARDI 11.17% 1,476
• Republican James E. ECCLES III 11.10% 1,466
• Republican Alicia BOTTICELLI 11.21% 1,481
• Republican William SULLIVAN 10.98% 1,451

These are the unofficial vote tallies. Mail-in ballots still have to be counted Wednesday.

Among the issues at stake is overdevelopment: Some say the Democrats in charge, under Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini, have pushed too much new building in Aberdeen, and it is not in keeping with the character of the area.

Other race outcomes:

Monmouth County Sheriff: Monmouth County Republican party boss Shaun Golden is the projected winner for his fourth term as county sheriff. He was challenged by Democrat Raymond Dothard, a Millstone resident and veteran of the U.S. Navy.

• Golden (projected winner): 71,059 votes
• Dothard: 46,726 votes

Golden made statewide headlines this year for defying the Murphy administration and continuing to work with ICE in the Monmouth County jail. Read: Monmouth County Sheriff Defies Murphy's Order On ICE Cooperation

Monmouth County Freeholder: The Republicans are Freeholder Tom Arnone (incumbent) and Wall Township Committeeman Nick DiRocco. The Democrats are Moira Nelson and Michael Penna. At issue is odor from the Monmouth County landfill in Tinton Falls and whether the Monmouth County jail should continue to work with ICE.

• Arnone (projected winner): 68,877 votes
• DiRocco (projected winner): 63,960 votes
• Penna: 49,167 votes
• Nelson: 48,739