OAKLAND — GOP incumbent candidate Kevin Slasinski has authorized a recount of the November Borough Council race in which he is tied with independent challenger Matthew Dumpert.
Acting Borough Clerk Wendi Seelin confirmed on Nov. 24 that she had received a “notice of recount filing” late Nov. 21 from a representative of Slaskinski, who is currently council president.
“We are currently waiting on the courts to approve,” Seelin said in an email statement. “Once approved, a recount will take place.”
Kevin Slasinski, 2025 Oakland GOP incumbent council candidate
Under New Jersey election rules, any candidate who has reason to believe that an error has been made in counting the votes can apply to a Superior Court judge for a recount within three days after the results are certified.
The requester is responsible to pay for the recount costs. However, costs are refunded if the recount changes the election outcome, or if the recount changes the results in any district by either 10 votes or 10%, whichever is greater.
State law does not specify a set deadline for the completion of a requested recount.
Slasinski and fellow incumbent John McCann Jr. ran for new three-year terms against independent candidates William Eilert and Matthew Dumpert. In the original count, the independent candidates appeared to win in a photo finish:
2,513 votes for William Eilert (independent).
2,483 votes for Matthew Dumpert (independent).
2,474 votes for Kevin Slasinski (GOP incumbent).
2,426 votes for John McCann Jr. (GOP incumbent).
However, when tallies were updated Nov. 14, two of the candidates were tied, a result that remained unchanged when results were certified Nov. 19:
2,546 votes for William Eilert.
2,516 votes for Matthew Dumpert.
2,516 votes for Kevin Slasinski.
2,469 votes for John McCann.
Matthew Dumpert, 2025 Oakland council independent candidate
The June 2024 primary featured two sets of Republican candidates running for council. County committee-supported incumbent Steven Saliani and newcomer Carol Ann Rose secured the GOP line. Last November, they beat Democrats Linda Schwager and Andrea Levy for council seats.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Oakland NJ council race headed to recount after ending in tie