Bayonne asks judge to cancel June 9 runoff elections after candidates drop out

Bayonne has filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel the June 9 runoff elections for city council in the second and third wards, arguing that the contests are no longer necessary because the candidates who finished second have publicly conceded and no longer seek office.

The city contends that Ward 2 candidate Omar Elgarhi and Ward 3 candidate Gary LaPelusa Sr. have ended their campaigns and stated they would not take office if elected. Bayonne is asking a judge to cancel the runoff and certify Melissa Godesky Rodriguez and Thomas Gillen Jr. as the winners.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge David Katz signed an Order to Show Cause scheduling the matter for an expedited briefing schedule. He declined to issue temporary restraints, meaning election preparations may continue until a hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

The city argues that Rodriguez and Gillen are now effectively unopposed and that proceeding with the runoff election would result in unnecessary public expense. Bayonne estimates the cost of conducting the election at approximately $60,000, including ballot preparation, voting machine programming, polling place operations, staffing, and vote-by-mail administration.




https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/bayonne-asks-judge-to-cancel-june-9-runoff-elections-after-candidates-drop-out/