Recount Scheduled For Parsippany Council Election Race

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Although election season has come to an end, the Parsippany-Troy Hills community is still unsure as to who will be sworn into the town council come January.

Judy Hernandez, a Democrat from Parsippany, finished fourth in the race for three open seats on the all-Republican town council at the end of Election Day, leaving Republicans Paul Carifi Jr., Adam Kandil, and Matt McGrath in the lead.

However, on Nov. 15, after counting provisional and last-minute mail-in ballots, she jumped to third place, only two votes ahead of Kandil.

Her victory was certified last week by Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi; however, Morris County Republican Committee Chair Laura Ali told Patch that the committee was going to be filing for a recount to dispute the results.

An election recount is the process of re-tabulating votes cast in an election to ensure the accuracy of the original results. Recounts are often conducted when there is a narrow margin of victory, after allegations of election fraud, or when administrative errors are suspected.

According to the Morris County Board of Elections, no official date has been scheduled for the recount, although they are hoping for Dec. 12.

That date, however, has not yet been approved by a judge, an election official told Patch on Thursday.

If the election results hold, Hernandez will become the only Democrat on the five-member council in Parsippany.