Politics & Government

Crawford: 'I'll Run Until They Tell Me to Stop'

Town attorney says newly minted Democrat's general election bid for a council seat is illegal.

Township Attorney John Inglesino declared that the so-called "sore loser" law makes Robert Crawford's general election move to run for the unexpired council seat as a Democrat illegitimate. 

Crawford ran against incumbent Vincent Ferrara for Freeholder Ann Grossi's unexpired term two-year seat on Town Council in the June 7 primary. Ferrara won the contest and was expected to face an uncontested general election race in November.

But Crawford won more than the Republican votes cast for him in the primary. He also received 44 write-in votes from Democrats. This gave him the option of changing parties and taking Ferrara on again in the fall election. The local Democratic Party invited Crawford to become its nominee for the seat and on Monday, the former Board of Education member announced his decision to switch parties and run for the council seat. 

Speaking at a Township Council meeting Tuesday night, Inglesino said that Crawford's Democratic write-in votes would make his nomination for the seat valid--if he hadn't run for the seat and lost in the Republican primary.

"There were sufficient number of write-in votes for Mr. Crawford to gain the Democratic nomination," Inglesino said. "However in New Jersey, there is a statute that precludes a candidate from being on the ballot for one party in the primary and then being on the ballot for another party in the fall."

The attorney quoted from New Jersey Law 1913.14-1: "A person whose name appears on the ballot in a primary election ... as a candidate for nomination by a political party for any municipal office shall not be eligible to serve as the candidate for another political party for that office in that municipality at the general election following that primary."

After discussions with the county clerk and the county council, Inglesino said the previous certification allowing Crawford to run was corrected to exclude him from the November ballot.

This means Ferrara indeed will run unopposed for the unexpired term council seat.

"Bob ran in the Republican primary to receive the party's endorsement. He lost the election fair and square," said Ferrara. "I have heard of taking a mulligan in a friendly game of golf, but I guess Bob thinks he should be able to get a mulligan in politics too."

Crawford smiled broadly when asked about this setback to his hope of winning a seat on Town Council.

"I'm not at all surprised," he said. "The last thing they want is someone to run against Vincent Ferrara."

Tom Wyka, a Democrat running for a regular four-year council seat in the general election, said the law may be vulnerable.

"'Sore loser' laws are being challenged left and right in the courts," he said. 

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Wyka pointed out a recent Georgetown Law Review article by Michael S. Kang, associate professor at Emory University School of Law. The 2011 piece argues that these statutes encourage party polarization, prop up incumbents from majority parties at the expense of all other parties and discourage third-party and independent candidates from pursuing office.

Crawford called the law Inglesino cited "a vindictive statute" that only pertains to municipalities. He said he intends to look into a legal challenge of the election's re-certification.

"The 'sore loser' law denies the people their choice," he said. "With all due respect to Mr. Inglesino, I believe the citizens of this town deserve a choice.

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I intend to remain in the race, if allowed. I'll run until they tell me to stop."


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