Democrats Ravitz and Nocito gathered an estimated 57 percent of the vote to their Republican challengers 43 percent in the 2018 election
In what was a highly anticipated election year across the country for the midterm election, Voorhees Township also featured a showdown between Democrats and Republicans at a more local level.
Two township committee seats were available in this year’s election, with Democrats Jason Ravitz and Michelle Nocito facing reelection, opposed by Republican challengers Carmine Valentino and Ilyse Pinette.
According to unofficial results by the Camden County Board of Elections, Ravitz and Nocito were reelected the committee. At the time of publication, Nocito had received 30.66 percent of the vote while Ravitz received 27.91 percent. Meanwhile, Valentino and Pinette each received approximately 20 percent of the vote.
Ravitz said he and Nocito were very appreciative to be reelected by residents and look forward to continuing to serve on township committee.
“We’re very thankful to our supporters,” Ravitz said. “We want to continue what we’ve been working on, which is keeping the quality of life at a high level through the best first responder, public, recreation and all other municipal services possible, all while keeping taxes flat.”
Ravitz also listed a few current and future projects the runningmates look forward to working on for Voorhees residents, including the redevelopment of the former Echelon Mall, which is now the Voorhees Town Center, and the creation and implementation of Jake’s Place next to Connolly Park, as an all-inclusive place for kids and adults to play at, while providing others in the local area a place to volunteer time.
Additionally, the pair hopes to continue to work to improve the Voorhees Fire Department.
Valentino said in a statement to The Sun for both candidates that they appreciate their supporters coming out during the election cycle.
“We want to thank everyone who has supported us in so many ways throughout this election” Valentino said. “We did not come out on top, but we do feel passionately about the issues that we brought forward during our campaign.”
Moving forward, they hope residents put pressure on elected officials to be honorable as they represent the town.
“As a town, we must continue to hold our elected officials accountable, and unite under the principles of putting Voorhees residents’ interests first,” Valentino said. “We can invoke the change needed if we all come forward, speak up and work together. As Americans, we must return to putting character and candidates ahead of party and politics.”
Meanwhile in the local Voorhees Board of Education election, which at publication of this article remained too close to call, the three seats available favored Monica Watson, incumbent Barbara Dunleavy and Rachel Van Aken. Watson earned 21.60 percent of the vote, while Dunleavy collected 20.75 percent and Van Aken gathered 20.36 percent.
However, these votes are unofficial and a final vote count can be found at camdencounty.com.
Additionally, for the two open seats representing Voorhees for Eastern Regional High School, Veronica Parker and Robert Campbell are the leading candidates. Parker earned 27.00 percent of the vote, and Campbell collected 22.26 percent.
Voters also voted for Camden County sheriff, with Democrat Gilbert L. “Whip” Wilson defeating Joseph Adolf, with Wilson receiving 69.46 percent of the vote.
For the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders, incumbent Democrats Jeffrey Nash, Susan Shin Angulo and William Moen were all reelected.
Additionally, for the House of Representatives First District, incumbent Democrat Donald Norcross defeated Republican challenger Paul Dilks, with Norcross receiving 67.97 percent of the vote.
Lastly, Democrat incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez defeated Republican Bob Hugin with 61.60 percent of the vote.
