‘Big night’ for Atlantic County Republicans

Nov, 03-2009 11:51 pm

Republicans running for county and state office made a dominant showing in Atlantic County, taking all races at stake with the exception of Assembly in District 1.

According to preliminary results from the county, 2nd District state Assemblymen John Amodeo of Margate and Vince Polistina of Egg Harbor Township were winners over Democrat challengers Reginald Floyd and Jimmy Martinez, both of Northfield.

The preliminary results, which do not include mail-in, provisional and absentee ballots, had Amodeo at 31,214 votes, Polistina at 30,552, followed by Floyd 20,581 and Martinez 20,734.

Republicans claimed victory to a room filled with supporters at the Linwood Country Club at approximately 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

With all the votes not yet tallied, the Atlantic County Republican Organization celebrated with Amodeo grabbing the most votes and Polistina a close second. 

County chairman Keith Davis said to the crowd of nearly 200, "For the first time since 1997 we will be going to Trenton with a majority. This is a big night for the Republican party."

In the countywide race for freeholder at large, incumbent Republican Frank Giordano of Mays Landing out tallied Democrat Angelo DeMaio of Atlantic City 34,050 to 27,709.

Republican Frank Formica of Margate beat Democrat John Devlin of Atlantic City 6,515 to 4,036 for the District 2 freeholder seat being vacated by longtime Republican Freeholder Thomas Russo.  The 2nd District encompasses Wards 5 and 6 in Atlantic City, District 1 of Egg Harbor Township, and the municipalities of Ventnor, Margate, Longport and Somers Point.

In Freeholder District 5, Republican incumbent and board chairman James Curcio ruled the day against Democrat Sam Mento. Fellow Hammontonians took in 8,369 to 6,581 respectively.

In the race for District 1 Assembly, Democratic incumbents Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam outpolled Republicans Mike Donahue and John McCann in the county as follows:

Albano 3,404, Milam 3,167, Donahue 2,978, McCann 2,955.

District 1 includes Somers Point, Buena, Buena Vista, all of Cape May County and parts of Cumberland County complete results were not in as of this writing.

In the race for governor Chris Christie garnered 33,331, Jon Corzine 30,697 and Christopher J. Daggett 3,303.

County residents opposed the open space question 28,429 no to 24, 754 yes.