By PAUL BOOTH
The race was tight and the night was long, but when all the votes were tallied and all the absentee ballots accounted for, Andrew Mayer eked out a 135-vote victory over Charles Lomangino in a special Tinton Falls election to fill the vacant Borough Council seat.
Lomangino had been acting councilman since his appointment in Sept. to fill the seat left vacant by former Council President Brendan Tobin’s sudden resignation in Aug.
“I’m pleased that things worked out this way,” said Mayer, who garnered 2,377 votes. “At times it seemed like an uphill battle but through a strong volunteer corp and word of mouth we made the difference.”
Mayer’s lead was marginal, no more than 30, when the absentee ballots began to be counted.
“It wasn’t until 10:30 or 11 that we realized we had the numbers to win,” Mayer said. “The absentee ballots made all the difference, we really got a boost from them.” The election has yet to be certified because there are 94 provisional ballots pending.
“I’m disappointed with the way it turned out, but my hat’s off to them and good luck,” said Lomangino.
“I was never really a politician,” he said. “I just wanted to help the borough out and make sure what goes on there goes on properly.” Lomangino said he looks forward to contributing to the community as a business owner, tax payer “and all around good citizen.”
Mayer said he is looking forward to taking the issues he has long supported to the council level.
“Preserving open space for recreational purposes and to limit development is obviously important,” said Mayer, who is a member of the Open Space Committee.
“But also, volunteers in town who contribute their time need to have their say and need to know council is there to listen to them. They’re the lifeblood of this town.” Mayer said. “When people feel like they are being listened to they are more likely to be involved in government and take a stake in the community.”
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