Jim McElwee Will Be Sworn In Once Votes Are Certified

New Galloway Councilman Jim McElwee will be sworn in once the results of Tuesday night's special election are certified by the Atlantic County Board of Elections, Galloway Mayor Don Purdy confirmed Wednesday morning, Nov. 7.

McElwee defeated John Mooney by a preliminary vote of 6,964-6,265. Provisional ballots were still to be counted Wednesday morning. Board of Elections officials hoped to have the results certified by Friday, but said there may be a delay because of provisions enacted by Gov. Chris Christie following last week's storm.

According to Purdy, if the results are certified by Friday, and McElwee's victory is upheld, he will be sworn in during the council meeting on Monday night, Nov. 12. If the results are not certified by the end of the business day Friday, they will not be certified until at least next Tuesday because Monday is Veteran's Day.

In that case, Mooney would serve as councilman Monday night.

McElwee is able to assume the seat immediately because he won an unexpired seat left vacant by the resignation of Councilman Dennis Kleiner on June 25. Mooney was appointed to fill the seat through the election by the Atlantic County Republican Committee on Aug. 1.

Following a regularly scheduled election for open seats, McElwee would have to wait until January to be sworn in.

The seat expires at the end of next year, meaning McElwee must run for re-election in 2013. It would be the third consecutive year McElwee ran for election to Galloway council. He ran for one of three open seats in 2010.