Batastini Says He Will Opt for Full School Board Term

Election results for Cape May County likely will not be official until Tuesday, according to Assistant County Clerk Liz Shay.

But if his victory as a write-in candidate is confirmed, Jon Batastini will opt to serve a full three-year term on the Ocean City Board of Education, he said on Friday.

In a rare scenario in the Nov. 5 election, Batastini won two different seats on the same board, according to preliminary results.

He was an official candidate for a one-year term on the board to finish out the unexpired term of a board member who resigned. But he also campaigned as a write-in candidate for a full three-year term — because only two candidates were on the ballot to fill three open seats.

In a seven-candidate race for the unexpired term, Batastini outpolled the next highest vote-getter, Michaela Walsh, 723 to 660, according to election-night results.

Among write-in votes for the full term, Batastini received 137. Dale Braun was next with 59.

If Batastini chooses the full term, the Ocean City Board of Education would make an appointment to fill the other seat.

"I hope I can exceed everyone's expectations," Batastini said on Friday.