Incumbent Leads Summit Common Council Race

SUMMIT, NJ — In Summit's only contested local election, the incumbent was leading at the end of Tuesday night, but only with 25 percent of the districts tallied.

As of 10 p.m. on Election Day, incumbent Democrat Susan Hairston was leading her Republican challenger for the 1st Ward Summit Common Council seat with two thirds of the vote, or 2,223 vs. 1,285 votes, according to the Union County clerk's office. There was one write-in vote so far.

That race was the only contested race at the local level in Summit.

In the uncontested race for a 2nd Ward council seat, incumbent council president Marjorie Fox, a Democrat, had 2,798 votes. There were 39 write-ins. Her opposition, a Republican, had left the race in summer for personal reasons.

A county official said Tuesday that these were unofficial results for machine and vote-by-mail ballots, and results will be updated at noon daily. The official certification will occur on Nov. 20.

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The race started out with two candidates vying for each of two seats on the council, one Republican and one Democrat each. However, in the summer, 2nd Ward council candidate Kirsten McCumber, a Republican, left the race. That left Council President Marjorie Fox unopposed for the 2nd Ward.

Both 1st Ward candidates filled out profiles for Patch.

In her profile, Hairston wrote, "While we're focused on the safety of our residents during the pandemic, we need to use this period as an opportunity to consider the overall health of our community and its residents. While we assist our businesses in weathering the current storm, let's look for opportunities to enhance our town's environment for both small and larger businesses."

Kelly wrote, "Affordability is the most pressing issue facing our community. I intend to use my financial background to propose innovative ideas that can help our small businesses navigate these uncertain times while carefully scrutinizing county, municipal, and school budgets so together we can lessen the property tax burden on Summit families."
Here is past Patch coverage of the Summit Common Council and the elections:

• Candidate profiles: Three Summit Council Candidates Vie For Seats in Nov. 3 Election
• Primary: Summit NJ Primary Election Results
• The next council meeting: Summit Common Council To Meet After Election Day.

For full coverage of the 2020 election in New Jersey, go here: New Jersey Elections 2020
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