Incumbents Lead In Unofficial Gloucester Twp. Election Results

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — As of 1 a.m., Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer and his Democratic incumbent running mates lead their challengers in the 2021 election races, according to unofficial results from the Camden County Clerk's Office.

In municipal government elections this year, the Democrats faced challenges from both Republicans and the third-party Restore GT.

Results were last updated at 12:59 a.m. Vote totals as of that time can be found below. Those leading the races are in bold. Results remain unofficial until they are certified; it may take a few days to count mail-in ballots.

Gloucester Township Mayor: 36/40 precincts reporting

Dave Mayer (D): 8,284
Joseph F. Damico III (R): 6,617
Sam Sweet (Restore GT): 2,346

Write-in: 7

Gloucester Township Council: 36/40 precincts reporting

Michelle L. Winters (D): 8,279
Dan Hutchison (D): 8,115
Carolyn Grace (D): 8,154
Natalie L. Rivera (R): 6,896
Raymond E. Henry Jr. (R): 6,811
Theodore M. Liddell (R): 6,730
Dawn Sabella (RGT): 1,817
Joe Allen (RGT): 1,815
Shaylynn Lattie (RGT): 1,786

Write-in: 8

Gloucester Township K-8 Board of Education: 36/40 precincts reporting

Anthony Marks: 4,230
Brian Hammel: 3,820
Kia Lipscomb: 4,005
Linda Gilch: 5,180
Keith Gibbons: 3,403
Jennifer Zuck: 3,001
Pauline Algeria: 3,521
Tamika Harvey: 3,840

Dolores Abbonzio: 3,320

Write-in: 77

Black Horse Pike Regional School Board of Education: 36/40 precincts reporting
Jay McMullin: 6,956
Matthew Jefferson: 5,416
Jennifer Storer: 7,745
Linda Gilch: 6,480
Shana Mosley: 6,880

Write-in: 154

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Mayer campaigned on a record of improving the township's finances and stabilizing taxes, as well as new community policing initiatives and enhanced economic development opportunities.

Damico campaigned on lowering taxes and making Gloucester Township more business friendly. He wants to improve transparency, eliminate wasteful spending and improve the roads.

Sweet is a Democrat who ran in previous Democratic primaries, but chose to run a third-party campaign in this year's general election. He also said lowering taxes was the most important issue facing the township. He has put together a citizens’ budget the last two years, and touts that he is not a career politician.

Winters, who was first elected to council in 2013, is active in the community and touts the Democrats’ economic development program.

Hutchison has been on township council since 2006. He has his own law firm that helps residents cope during tough financial times and visits high schools throughout Camden and Gloucester counties to discuss the pitfalls of obtaining credit and using it unwisely.

Grace, who was appointed to council after Scott Owens resigned in the fall, will run for that seat. In 2016, she co-founded The Brittany Woods Community Action Group, which collaborates with multiple departments in Gloucester Township government to complete community enhancement projects.

Rivera wants to see the quality of life in Gloucester Township improve, saying the current administration is not concerned with the township’s natural resources.

Henry says residents are not acknowledged by the current administration. He said if elected, he would listen to the residents. He said the safety and diversity of the township are also key issues.

Liddell also said the voices of the residents are not being heard, and listed the top issues as taxes, economic development and helping homegrown businesses thrive.

Sabella said the township desperately needs a council that is transparent and works to keep the township together. She also wants to help make the township more affordable.

Allen said taxes are high because the township’s residents aren’t represented. With good representation, taxes would be stable, businesses would thrive and people would get more involved, he said.

Lattie said council meetings should be livestreamed so that all residents can participate, and that the township should have a financial analysis committee. She also said council needs to be more transparent.

Both school district races are traditionally crowded affairs, and there is a lot at stake in this year’s races. School boards across the state are dealing with mask mandates, vaccine mandates for teachers and finding ways to keep students safe amid an ongoing global health pandemic.

In the K-8 public school district, teachers are working without a contract, and continue to hold weekly protests as negotiations between the district and the teachers’ union continue.

Just before the polls closed, a superior court judge in Mercer County reportedly rejected a request from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the League of Women Voters to keep polls open until 9:30 p.m.

The request was made because of issues with machines and delayed poll openings across the state, but the judge ruled no voter had been disenfranchised because of these events. Read more here: NJ Judge Denies Polling Hour Extension In ACLU Lawsuit: Report