Embattled Superior Court Judge John Deitch has changed his mind and reversed his own order requiring a do-over Democratic primary for the Roselle Borough Council, and gave local Democrats until Sunday to pick a general election candidate.
The decision follows more than three months of legal challenges that initially included Deitch’s own refusal to order a recount after incumbent Denise Wilkerson defeated challenger Cynthia Johnson by three votes out of more than 3,000 cast.
Now, with Johnson supporters holding a narrow majority of county committee seats, it looks like she could be the nominee – if her votes show up at a special meeting this weekend.
Deitch tossed the results of the primary on Tuesday – Wilkerson had won by two votes after an appellate court overruled Deitch and ordered a recount – and said there would be a special primary election, followed by a special general election. Union County officials proposed a December 9 primary and a January 27 general. He found that at least three voters had been disenfranchised during the primary.
Wilkerson slammed Deitch.
“Judge Deitch has mishandled this case from the beginning. His refusal to expedite this case has resulted in three months of chaos and confusion, and today’s ruling is the cherry on top of a process that continues to ignore the will of the people,” said Deitch. “If allowed to stand, this ridiculous denial of voters’ rights will circumvent democracy and essentially place the critical selection of a Roselle Council member in the hands of one individual, Reginald Atkins. I cannot allow my friends and neighbors to be disenfranchised in this way, so I intend to immediately file an appeal to this decision.”
