Northfield voters support cannabis retailers and deliveries 55% to 45%
Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in the online at ocnjsentinel.com on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Incumbents won nearly every election in Somers Point, Linwood and Northfield while voters approved a nonbinding referendum supporting retail marijuana sales and rejected another seeking $2.6 million in park upgrades Nov. 8.
SOMERS POINT
Six people sought three seats on Somers Point City Council, with office holders keeping their positions in all three races.
Longtime City Councilman Sean McGuigan overcame a challenge from Dan Myers, collecting 1,033 votes to 694 for a three-year term in Ward 1.
Rick DePamphilis III topped Lisa Bender 1,005 to 722 for a one-year unexpired term in Ward 1.
Councilman Mike Owen defeated former longtime councilman Carl D’Adamo 739 to 689 in Ward 2.
Running unopposed for the Somers Point Board of Education, Alice Myers, Karen Tomasello and Staci Endicott retained their seats with 1,933, 1,927 and 1,839 votes respectively.
A write-in candidate won the two-year unexpired term but the candidate’s identity was not immediately clear.
Unopposed, Matthew Endicott retained his seat as a Somers Point representative on the Mainland Regional High School Board of Education.
A write-in candidate won the one-year unexpired term representing Somers Point on the board but the winner’s identity was not immediately clear.
LINWOOD
Voters rejected a nonbinding referendum asking whether the city should install an artificial turf field at All Wars Memorial Park for an estimated cost of $1.6 million while upgrading the existing lighting system to high-efficiency LED bulbs for the entire park at an estimated cost of $1 million. The city would issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $2.6 million to finance the cost.
The issue failed 1,404 to 1,376. (See related story, page A1.)
Stacy DeDomenicis and Todd Michael were re-elected without opposition to Linwood City Council, receiving 971 and 1,049 votes respectively.
Running unopposed, Ryan Rendfrey, Holly DiLeo and Craig Kahn retained their seats on the Linwood Board of Education.
Also unopposed, Jeffrey Vasser retained his seat as a Linwood representative on the Mainland Regional High School Board of Education.
NORTHFIELD
Northfield voters approved a question asking whether City Council should authorize as many as three Class 5 retail cannabis licenses and three Class 6 cannabis delivery licenses on Tilton Road, from Debora Avenue to the border with Egg Harbor Township.
The issue passed 1,529 to 1,148, or 55 percent to 45 percent.
It’s doubtful, however, that the issue will ever see a vote since its major proponent, Councilman Paul Utts, lost his Ward 1 election to political newcomer Renee Carfagno 778 votes to 654.
Utts was the only incumbent to lose in the three towns that make up the Mainland Regional High School District.
Meanwhile Eric Leeds defeated Tom Corona 874 to 637, or 65 percent to 35 percent, in Ward 2.
Stephen Funk and Jillian Tafeen retained their positions on the Northfield Board of Education unopposed.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
