DiCarlo Formally Declared Winner in West Deptford Committee Race

After weeks of waiting, Democrat Denice DiCarlo can officially celebrate her victory in the township committee race. 

The results of the close race were certified Tuesday afternoon by the Gloucester County Board of Elections, exactly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election. 

Preliminary results after the polls closed on election night showed DiCarlo ahead in the race by just 99 votes. 

Ultimately, DiCarlo defeated GOP challenger Jeff Hansen by 140 votes, according to the certified results. The final vote tally was 5,213 to 5073, with 11 write-in votes, once all provisional ballots and any cast remotely by residents displaced by Superstorm Sandy were counted. 

Hurricane Sandy disrupted the election process across New Jersey, and Gloucester County, while not has hard hit as other areas, was no exception. The state gave the county extra time to certify election results to account for any ballots from displaced voters.  

Tuesday's election results indicate DiCarlo picked up one vote, and Hansen seven, from voters affected by Sandy.

Township Republican Party Chairman Denny Forte said Hansen had called to concede to DiCarlo. The township GOP declined to concede earlier in the process, with officials saying they wanted to wait until the official vote totals were certified.

“I hope that Denice conducts herself in an honest manner because that is what West Deptford residents deserve and our town needs elected officials who are going to be straight with them,” Hansen said in a statement. 

Forte continues to remain optimistic about the progress of the Republican Party and what it means for the future of West Deptford. While President Barack Obama led former Gov. Mitt Romney by 1,599 votes in West Deptford, DiCarlo’s lead over Hansen was much slimmer. Forte said in his statement those numbers suggest a large number of Democratic and independent voters opted for Hansen—and calls it a bad sign for the Democratic Party. 

“The election results were a good sign for the [Republican] Party going into the 2013 election, even with our candidate falling short of his opponent,” said Forte. “Their actions have resonated across party lines and West Deptford residents agree that they will put West Deptford back on the path of fiscal responsibility and sound management.”

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 8:33 p.m. on Nov. 27 to include the statement of Republican Party Chair Denny Forte.  

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