GOP Candidates Fernandez and Krauss Win

As district results were read off and tabulated, Jerry Fernandez pumped his fist and shouted “oh yeah."

He had every reason for high spirits; following a near miss in his run for Springfield Township Committee last year, he and his fellow Republican Marc Krauss had both won seats on the Township Committee.

In a sea change for the town’s government, Republican candidates for Springfield’s committee won both open seats on the Township Committee in last night’s election, defeating Democratic candidates David Barnett and Rich Huber. After the vote, the five-member Township Committee has a Republican majority, with new Committee members Krauss and Fernandez joining current Republican Committee Member Ziad Shehady.

Shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m., Shehady was hunched over a laptop in the corner of the back room of McLynn’s bar and restaurant, typing out district results as former Springfield GOP chairman Bill Ruocco read them out. The boisterous, celebratory atmosphere didn’t allow for serene data entry; Shehady and Ruocco had to shout for quiet several times when the din of the excited crowd drowned out the numbers.

The results were termed a landslide by GOP supporters and the candidates—Fernandez noted he had nearly doubled his opponent's votes in one district.

“We beat them by hundreds,” Fernandez exclaimed as numbers were read.

Supporters—including Democratic Deputy Mayor Beth Manes and Mayor Bart Fraenkel, who both watched the results at McLynn's—expressed optimism about the election’s outcome before the results came in. Marc Krauss said he felt positive, and supporters echoed that sentiment.

“I don’t think it’s a question of ‘if,’” Springfield resident Jodie Silverstein said. “It’s a question of how much by.”

The mood at the Knights of Columbus building, where the Democrats had gathered, was more reserved.

“This was not the outcome we were hoping for,” said Springfield Township Attorney Bruce Bergen, who lost in his bid for State Assembly.

Writing a concession message for the Springfield Democrat’s Web site, unseated Democratic incumbent Barnett looked to the future saying he planned to continue to serve the town in other ways.

“The sun will rise tomorrow,” Barnett said. “I certainly wish Jerry and Marc well and I hope they serve the town well and continue the progress we’ve made in the past years.”

For a full breakdown on Springfield and Union County votes, click here.