After eight years under Chuck Cahn, the Cherry Hill Township Mayor’s office will have a new face from the same party. With all districts reporting, Democrat Susan Shin Angulo defeated Republican candidate Nancy Feller O’Dowd last Tuesday by a margin of 9,908 to 5,745.
“It is an absolute privilege to serve the residents of Cherry Hill as the township’s next mayor,” Shin Angulo said. “Cherry Hill is in a great position for continued success into the future. I am proud to serve as the first Asian-American mayor of Cherry Hill and the first Korean-American woman mayor in this great state.”
“These past four years, it has been my pleasure serving on the innovative and forward-thinking Camden County Freeholder Board, where I was responsible for the Department of Public Works, overseeing substantial county infrastructure and roadway projects,” the new mayor added.
As a freeholder, Shin-Angulo said she has been able to help immigrants, senior citizens, veterans, families in crisis, students and constituents throughout the region.
“It is my honor to be part of this momentum and, as mayor, I will work to keep Cherry Hill vibrant and attractive to all who wish to raise a family, operate a business, or retire here,” she noted. I am grateful to the residents of Camden County, and Cherry Hill, for giving me this remarkable opportunity to represent them.”
In defeat, O’Dowd acknowledged the level of community support she received from both sides of the political spectrum.
“We will continue to speak up for residents who feel their concerns are being ignored,” she said. “We offer our best wishes for success to the new mayor, and we hope she will respect the diversity of thought in our community as well.”
Seven residents vied for a seat on township council: incumbents Brian Bauerle (D) and Michele Golkow (D), along with Jennifer Apell (D), Republicans Stephen Cohen, Steven Lever and Mary Ellen Litton, and Libertarian Party candidate Rich Bowen.
With all districts reporting, Apell racked up more votes (10,013) than either Golkow (9,863) or Bauerle (9,658) in their re-election bids. Cohen tallied the most votes among GOP challengers, with a total of 5,382.
In the race for the Cherry Hill Public Schools Board of Education, three candidates squared off for a two-year unexpired term and seven candidates were vying for three, three-year terms.
The unexpired term will go to Ruth Schultz, who collected 5,242 votes. Anju Pejuvara finished second with 3,662 and Ineda “Corrien” Elmore-Stratton ended up third with 2,450 votes.
For the three-year seats on the board, Kimberly Friddell topped the list with 6,745 votes, while Rosy Arroyo landed in second place with 6,262 and Benjamin Ovadia placed third with 4,794 votes. Jessica Rodriguez was fourth with 4,554 votes, Matthew Brinn was fifth (4,313), sixth place went to Sanjay Kumar Sharma (3,569) and Yonaton Yares ended up seventh (3,342).
In the 6th Legislative District, Democratic incumbents Louis Greenwald and Pamela Lampitt defeated Republican challengers John Papeika and Cynthia Plucinski by more than 28,000 votes.
With all votes tabulated in the race for an unexpired term on the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Democrat Melinda Kane beat Republican Keith Cybulski by a 2-to-1 margin, with 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 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).
The office of county clerk will also remain a Democratic stronghold, as Joseph Ripa outpaced Republican hopeful Roy Gustafson by 70 percent of the vote.
