“Republican sues over ‘statistical impossibility’ of Democrats’ winning streak in ballot drawings,”

 “Republican sues over ‘statistical impossibility’ of Democrats’ winning streak in ballot drawings,”

 by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “On Monday, the Essex County clerk held a drawing to see which political party would get the preferential first line on the ballot for the Nov. 7 general election. Such drawings happen all over the state around this time and usually generate little hubbub. But this time, the Republicans won the coveted Line A in Essex County — for the first time in 17 years and on the same day a Republican state Senate candidate sued County Clerk Chris J. Durkin for ‘nefarious conduct’ the candidate said ensured Democrats’ statistically improbable 17-year winning streak. Such a win might delight other Republicans. 

But Michael D. Byrne, the GOP candidate vying for retiring Democratic Sen. Dick Codey’s seat, remained just as suspicious after Monday’s drawing as he was when he filed his lawsuit in Superior Court earlier in the day. Friday, he filed a statement with the court to renew his concerns, saying he believes the ballot drawing was manipulated and that the drawing ‘lacked transparency, fairness, and honesty just as the previous 18 drawings did.’”

BAILEY CREAMED — “Dunston still wins after recount of Atlantic City’s ward 2 primary election,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “Friday evening recount of the Democratic primary election results for City Council in the city’s Ward 2 found three new votes but left the winner the same. Incumbent LaToya Dunston still came out ahead with 303 votes to challenger Viana Bailey’s 297, said Board of Elections Chair Lynn Caterson. That’s a difference of six votes, compared to a difference of three after the Election Day count. … Mayor Marty Small Sr., a supporter of Bailey, said after the recount that Bailey will challenge the results and ask for a new election. ‘We are going to challenge the election,” Small said.’ ‘Not to tip any strategy, but the incumbent got 84 votes (to Bailey’s 179) at the polls and ... probably half were assisted by Callaway.’ Bailey filed a lawsuit for a recount and a challenge to the election June 23 that alleged that Craig Callaway, of Atlantic City, assisted 19 voters within the 2nd ward with filling out election forms. The lawsuit charged that more than three of those did not qualify for such assistance.”