A race for an Oakland Borough Council seat ended in a tie, but it took Superior Court Judge Kelly Conlon ten days to hold a hearing ordering a recount that won’t be conducted until December 10.
Republican Councilman Kevin Slasinki and Democrat Matthew Dumpert both have 2,516 votes. Democrat William Eilert was certified as the winner of the other seat with 2,516 votes; Democrat William Eilert defeated the other GOP incumbent, John McCann, Jr., 2,546 to 2,469.
Slasinski’s attorney, Charles Rabolli, filed for the recount on November 21, and Conlon didn’t schedule a case management conference until November 25.
Conlon ordered a brief to outline reasons why an error in the count might have been made, an event that doesn’t really matter since the result was a tie. Rabolli had suggested there were other election irregularities, including a discrepancy in the counting and the rejection of seven mail-in ballots.
“A recount is the preferred method to resolve an election dispute, compared to a challenge or a special election,” Rabolli stated in court papers.
