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Democrats win easily in Delran

Democrats yesterday swept the mayor's office and two council seats by wide margins in Delran, scoring a stunning victory in one of Burlington County's GOP strongholds.

Democrats yesterday swept the mayor's office and two council seats by wide margins in Delran, scoring a stunning victory in one of Burlington County's GOP strongholds.

Ken Paris was elected mayor, winning 1,804 votes and beating Councilman Michael Chinnici by nearly 500. Paris' running mates, Gary Catrambone and John Moran, were elected to the five-seat Township Council by similar margins.

"The fact that the whole slate won and the Democratic Party has been able to take control of Delran says a lot in a very Republican county," Moran said.

"I think people were just ready for change," he said. "Shoe leather will beat the dollar every time. We were just out there knocking on doors. They may have outspent us 3-1, but we outwalked them by talking to voters at least 3-1."

Delran is technically nonpartisan, but, as in many towns that share the designation, its political officials and candidates have a party affiliation.

The Democrats' win was notable because their opponents so severely outspent them. The Republican slate poured more than $60,000 into the race, most of it for cable-TV commercials, according to its latest filing with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. By contrast, Paris' slate had spent about $15,000, according to its latest filing.

"Obviously, we're disappointed in the results. . . . We wish our opponents good luck, and we expect to see the results that they have promised in their campaign," said Pauline Gebhardt, who lost her bid for a council seat with Zoning Board Chairman Rob Gleaner.

The defeat means that Chinnici, a councilman since 2000, is leaving public office; his term as councilman is up. The mayor, Joseph Stellwag, and another council member, Bert Hermansky, opted not to run for reelection, offering an unusual degree of latitude in the race.

The Township Council will vote on Paris' replacement on the council because his term has not yet expired.

In Bass River Township, all three members of the Board of Commissioners retained their seats against a challenge from Louis Bourguignon.

Gregory Lackey defeated Joseph Aromando for a seat on the Medford Lakes Borough Council.

In Mount Holly, Thomas Gibson, Ryan Donnelly and Kimberly Kersey won Township Council seats in the uncontested election.