Springfield Vote Too Close to Call

With all districts reporting but with provisional and email ballots unaccounted for, the race for the two contested seats on the Springfield Township Committee is split between Democrats and Republicans.

While Springfield residents preferred Obama over Romney 3,552 to 2,857, they did not show a strong preference for Democrats or Republicans in the local race.

“The difference between Obama and Romney is about 600 votes,” Committee member Marc Krauss said before the final votes were tallied. “The difference between us and them is like 100 votes.”

Democratic challenger David Barnett garnered the most votes, tailed by Incumbent Republican Jerry Fernandez Margaret Bandrowski and Marc Krauss placed third and fourth, respectively. Bandrowski is within striking distance of Fernandez in second, with only 12 points separating her from the Deputy Mayor.

The numbers, which include absentee ballots, as of 10 p.m., are below.

• David Barnett 3173
• Jerry Fernandez 3141
• Margaret Bandrowski 3129
• Marc Krauss 3020

This year’s election has been complicated by fallout from Hurricane Sandy. Residents throughout the state have voted with provisional and email ballots that will not be tallied until Friday. Representatives of both the Democratic and Republican parties said that with the race as close as it is currently, those late numbers will become major factors.

David Barnett said that he hoped that when the final votes are tallied that he would retain his lead and that his running mate would pick enough votes to get over the hump.

“I think we need to wait until all of the provisional ballots are in,” Barnett said.