Camden County Progressives Win Key Election After Close Recount Changes Result

Progressives win control of Merchantville Municipal Committee 

Merchantville, New Jersey – The South Jersey Progressive Democratic slate in Merchantville prevailed in a close June 8 primary election for County Committee after petitioning in court for a recount. The recount showed progressive candidate Chester Hicks defeated machine-backed Louis Fiume 238 votes to 234.

The result is a blow to the Norcross-controlled Democratic machine in Camden County, as progressives now control the majority of votes on municipal committee in Merchantville. Three out of four municipal committee seats will be held by progressives, who succeeded in overthrowing their machine-backed, Column 1 opponents.

The original and tentative election results for four seats on the Camden County Democratic Committee showed Progressive candidates winning two of the four seats. After petitioning for and securing a vote  recount, the Progressives have picked up a third seat, as Chester Hicks joins newly elected Joseph Bouvier and current town commissioner Nina Scarpa on the Committee, giving progressives the three-seat majority they worked hard to win.

“Despite the long odds, our team felt obligated to finish the hard work to effect change in Merchantville,” said Hicks. “The most important work now begins to allow Merchantville citizen’s voices to be heard. I am grateful to my team, to our voters and to my faith for allowing us to pull through.”

The recount of the vote-by-mail ballots added six to Hicks’s total. A recount of provisional ballots added one. The net gain of seven votes gave progressives the victory.

Progressive local leaders are thrilled by Hicks’s win.

“The Merchantville Progressive Democrats have worked hard for this chance to do something incredibly rare in Camden County: the chance to use elected office to truly represent the people, not the party boss. The South Jersey Progressive Democrats are delighted to have Nina, Joe and Chester as our progressive eyes and ears inside the Camden County Democratic Committee,” said Kate Delaney, President of South Jersey Progressive Democrats. “We know they will be tireless advocates for the culture shift our county party so desperately needs, away from machine politics and towards ethical operations and an openness to new voices.”

“This victory shows the Progressive movement is still thriving in South Jersey, due in huge part to the hard, consistent work of South Jersey Progressive Dems in multiple towns this cycle,” noted Sue Altman, Director of New Jersey Working Families. “What it also shows is that when a close election relies on Camden County machine politicians executing flawlessly and fairly, definitely do the recount.”

Bouvier and Scarpa, who won comfortable victories, look forward to governing alongside Hicks on municipal committee.

“I’m very happy for Chester. He put a lot of effort into the campaign, tirelessly knocking on doors and talking to voters.  And by his hard work, he was able to overcome the extreme disadvantage of being placed in Column 5 on the ballot,” said Bouvier. “I look forward to working closely with Chester in the months and years ahead.”

Judge Francisco Dominguez granted the order for recount, which was filed June 25. Flavio Komuves of Weissman & Mintz represented the Progressive challengers during the recount petition process.

A copy of recount report is included below.