For the second time in four months, there will be a new face added to the three-person governing body in the Borough of Haddonfield.
According to unofficial results from both the borough clerk’s office as well as Camden County Board of Elections as of print, challenger Colleen Bianco Bezich toppled recent appointee Robert Marshall to fill the remainder of the two-year term of former Commissioner for Public Works John Moscatelli.
Moscatelli departed the post at the end of June, with Marshall selected to fill the vacancy the following month.
With all districts reporting, Bianco Bezich received 1,588 votes to 1,284 for Marshall. Gregory Peltz (210 votes) and Kathryn Raiczyk (180) were positioned third and fourth, respectively.
“I am incredibly grateful to all of my supporters. I’d also like to thank the other candidates for offering their time and talents to serve the residents of Haddonfield. I welcome the opportunity to work with and represent all members of our community,” said Bianco Bezich.
“I look forward to joining Neal (Mayor Rochford) and Jeff (Commissioner Kasko) in addressing the tough issues facing our Borough, and guiding policy as we plan for its future. My work is just beginning, and I’m excited to get started.”
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the 37-year-old Bianco Bezich will hold the office until its current term expires in May 2021.
Since he was appointed to the Public Works post, Marshall faced an uphill battle dealing with the fallout from a spate of summer weather events which caused damage to property and stormwater infrastructure across the municipality and left several residents homeless and looking for answers from various levels of local government.
“I would like to thank all those that supported my grassroots campaign. It has been an honor to serve as Haddonfield Borough Commissioner for Public Works, Parks and Public Property these past four months,” Marshall stated.
“It was particularly rewarding to receive endorsements from so many past mayors, members of the planning board, board of education members and residents that continue to make this a wonderful community. I expect to continue my efforts to actively support community organizations throughout the town.”
In the uncontested race for the three spots available on the Haddonfield School District’s Board of Education, David Siedell and Jaime Auletto Grookett are in line to retain their seats, while Linda Baker Hochgertel will fill the seat left by Matthew Ritter, who decided not to run.
Grookett unofficially has recorded the most votes of the three, with 2,527, followed by 2,508 for Siedell and 2,449 for Hochgertel.
“Thank you to all who came out to vote. I appreciate the support and look forward to continuing my work on the Haddonfield Board of Education. Congratulations to David and Linda, as well, and I look forward to working with you,” Grookett said.
With all votes tabulated in a race for an unexpired term on the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Democrat Melinda Kane trounced Republican Keith Cybulski by a 2-to-1 margin, Kane recording 59,004 votes to 27,927 for her GOP challenger.
In addition, Democrats Carmen G. Rodriguez (56,567 votes) and Edward McDonnell (56,499) outpaced Republicans Nicole Nance (28,442) and Claire Gustafson (28,036) in the expired-term election.
For the state question on this year’s ballot, voters were asked to choose either “yes” or “no” on a constitutional amendment to give certain veterans’ benefits to residents of continuing care retirement communities. The proposed amendment would allow eligible veterans who live in such retirement communities to receive the same $250 tax deduction as veterans who live in private residences.
State residents have overwhelmingly selected “yes,” by an unofficial margin of 45,478 votes (78.38 percent) to 11,842 (21.62 percent).
