Opinion: High, Low or the Middle of the Road

Click here for preliminary election results.

United For Perth Amboy – November 4, 2014 (L to R) Fernando Irizarry, Lisa Nanton, Bill Petrick, Sergio Diaz, Joel Pabon, Kenny Gonzalez *File Photos by Carolyn Maxwell

New Direction For Perth Amboy – November 4, 2014 (L to R) Daniel Gonzalez, Jelmin Caba, Victor Coronado, Ana Mascenik, Fernando Gonzalez

PERTH AMBOY – 18,299 voters went to the polls. No, this was not the election held on November 2014. This election occurred 65 years ago in May 1950. According to Wikepedia the 1950 Census revealed a population of 41,330. 

Sergio Diaz

On Election Day of November 4, 2014, there were 25,052 registered voters out of a population of 50,814 (as of 2010 Census). Out of registered voters 6,720 voted on the machines.

Fernando Gonzalez and Sergio Diaz will be the only candidates vying for the last seat on the City Council. Unlike General Elections, Primaries, School Board Elections, etc., no write-in votes are allowed.

Sergio Diaz is Line A-1 and Fernando Gonzalez is Line B-1.

During several Perth Amboy Council Meetings, residents have brought out the fact that campaign contributions have been lopsided towards one ticket or particular candidates. This discussion has dated back from the November 4, 2014 Council Election.

Fernando Gonzalez

One of the candidates that ran on a ticket in 2014 did not receive large campaign contributions was initially elected. In this case, money originally did not make a difference. Some speculate that it may have done so in the court case (legal fees).

In 2014 there were seven candidates running for three Council Seats. Will those voters who backed the candidates who didn’t get in vote in this election? Will the election be too close to call and possibly garner another court battle?

The Amboy Guardian will be posting the election results and pending updates as soon as they become available on www.amboyguardian.com.

Much has been discussed that voters are confused when the General Election and the School Board Election are listed on the same ballot.

Since there are only two candidates, no write-ins and no public questions, it would be interesting to see if this will make a difference in voter turnout.

In 2010 in South Amboy, when Mayor Henry first ran for Mayor, he won by 1 vote. This was after Mary O’Connor, who came very close behind him to challenge some of the votes. Every time you go into court, it’s costly. Hopefully, after all the votes are counted, there will be a clear-cut winner.