Incumbents Berryhill, Blunt win in Camden County recounts
At one point on Election Day, it looked as if Haddon Heights Councilman Stephen D. Berryhill was trailing his Republican challenger, Vincent M. Ceroli, by about 40 votes.
At one point on Election Day, it looked as if Haddon Heights Councilman Stephen D. Berryhill was trailing his Republican challenger, Vincent M. Ceroli, by about 40 votes.
Then, when officials began counting the mail-in ballots and provisionals, the margin not only closed, but turned the results in favor of the incumbent by a single vote. The count was 784 for Berryhill - the lone Democrat on the board - and 783 for Ceroli.
That triggered a recount for the three-year post.
The numbers changed during the recount, but the winner stayed the same, Camden County Commissioner of Elections Robert Venuti said Tuesday.
After Tuesday's count, Berryhill had 790 votes and Ceroli had 785. The top vote-getter was newcomer Republican Jacquelyn E. Valvardi, who received 826 votes and will also serve a three-year term.
"You never know which way it's going to go," Venuti said, recalling that many years ago the winner changed after the recount.
Another recount unfolded in the race for Chesilhurst mayor, where incumbent Republican Michael Blunt won by three votes. Blunt received 161 votes and 158 were cast for the independent challenger, Samuel White Jr.
After Tuesday's recount, Blunt won by 165-158.
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