Leventhal and Ryan Win Re-Election to Township Committee
A decisive win for the two Democratic incumbents.
The final, unofficial totals are in — with 21 of 21 districts reporting — for the race for two seats on the Maplewood Township Committee.
Kathy Leventhal won re-election with a total of 7,850 votes, and her running mate Jerry Ryan received 7,760 votes.
Republican challenger Art Gartenlaub tallied 1,817 votes.
Here is the chart from the Essex County Clerk's Office:
| Township Committee-Maplewood |
| 21/21 100.00% |
| Under Votes | 4394 | |
| Over Votes | 0 | |
| Vote Count | Percent | |
| Dem - Kathleen M. LEVENTHAL | 7,850 | 45.02% |
| Dem - Gerard W. RYAN | 7,760 | 44.50% |
| Rep - Arthur GARTENLAUB | 1,817 | 10.42% |
| Rep - No Nomination Made | 0 | 0.00% |
| Write-In | 11 | 0.06% |
| Total | 17,438 | 100.00% |
"I'm very grateful to everyone in Maplewood who voted, and I am thrilled to be given the chance to represent this wonderful community for another three years," said Ryan.
He continued: "In the last several days, we've all been working together helping each other recover from this catastrophic storm. In the ways that we have all helped each other, we have seen what makes Maplewood such a wonderful place to live, and I have seen again why this is such a wonderful community to serve.
I would also like to congratulate my running mate, Kathy Leventhal, for her victory. I'm looking forward to serving with her.
And I also want to give a word of thanks to Art Gartenlaub for his campaign and for his long service to our community. Thank you all very very much."
"Maplewood is the best!" said Leventhal. "We've spent the past week reaching out to one another, and today delivering the vote for Obama and Menendez. I'm excited to serve Maplewood with Jerry Ryan for another three years. Thank you, to Art Gartenlaub for his campaign and generous volunteer work."
"Congratulations to Kathy and Jerry," said Gartenlaub. "You are both dedicated public officials and I believe that you will continue to represent the interests of Maplewood."
This year's outcome was clearly not unexpected, owing to the fact that Democrats far outnumber Republicans in Maplewood in terms of voter registration.
Leventhal and Ryan celebrated with supporters at Leventhal's house (which has power).
In the presidential election, Obama received 9,140 votes in Maplewood; Romney garnered 1,636.
Lee Navlen
12:25 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I hear Kathy's party was a blast! She was fortunate to have power and heat.
Dom DeLouise
5:03 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Notice the amount of undervotes, including myself. Four Thousand people.
Veronica Peralta
7:45 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
What are undervotes and overvotes?
Veronica Peralta
7:45 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
un·der·vote (ndr-vt)
n.
1. A ballot that has been cast but shows no legally valid selection in a given race or referendum.
2. The number of such ballots cast in an election.