Mendham Township swears in second Democrat as Republican court challenge looms

Kyle Morel, New Jersey Herald
·3 min read

MENDHAM TOWNSHIP — The Township Committee pledged bipartisan collaboration moving forward as it welcomed two new members Thursday, including a Democrat whose election is being challenged in court by Morris County Republicans.

Republican Tracey Moreen and Democrat Lauren Spirig were sworn in for three-year terms during Thursday's reorganization meeting at Mendham Township Middle School. Despite a legal case that has drawn national attention, the two newest committee members, in statements after taking their oaths of office, spoke of the need to work in the best interest of the community.

"I intend to use my votes to represent the majority of residents versus having three people decide the future of our town with 3-2 votes based on opinion," Moreen said. "We'll certainly still have 3-2 votes, but my votes will be on behalf of what the residents want, even in cases where I don't necessarily agree."

Mendham Township Committee members Tracey Moreen, second from left, and Lauren Spirig hug in celebration following their swearing-in ceremonies during the committee's reorganization at Mendham Township Middle School Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
Mendham Township Committee members Tracey Moreen, second from left, and Lauren Spirig hug in celebration following their swearing-in ceremonies during the committee's reorganization at Mendham Township Middle School Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.

Spirig, who works as director of development for a nonprofit digital news publication, echoed her fellow newcomer's sentiments and said the two promised "to authentically and honestly represent the needs of their neighbors, regardless of political party."

The meeting came two weeks after former Committee member Thomas Baio, who also served as deputy mayor, filed a lawsuit contesting Spirig's election "on the grounds that illegal votes were received, and that the votes received were sufficient to change the result."

A statement last month from Laura Ali, chair of the Morris County Republican Committee, alleged the totals included "a large and growing number of vote-by-mail ballots filed by Democrat voters who do not appear to meet the residency requirement for voting in Mendham Township."

Baio's suit said 33 ballots had been improperly cast in the November race, though it didn't provide specific evidence for the claim. The challenge drew a flurry of residents to the committee's last meeting in December. Some complained that Baio was taking a page out of the book of national Republicans like Donald Trump or Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who have made unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud after losing elections.

Certified election results from the Morris County Clerk's Office showed Spirig receiving 1,473 votes to Baio's 1,471 to secure the second open committee seat. Moreen led the field with 1,532 votes, while Democrat Martin Slayne received 1,397 votes.

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Baio filed for a recount, which was approved and took place Dec. 9, according to a summary of the legal case filed in state Superior Court. The county clerk reported the vote totals four days later, showing Baio had lost one vote to finish at 1,470. The other totals remained the same.

The lawsuit is set to be heard Thursday, Jan. 19, at hearing before Morris County Superior Court Judge Stuart Minkowitz.

Lauren Spirig, center, takes the oath of office for the Mendham Township Committee accompanied by her husband, John; son Luke, 7; and daughter Zoey, 5, during the committee's reorganization at Mendham Township Middle School Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Administering the oath is Mendham attorney Tom Murphy.
Lauren Spirig, center, takes the oath of office for the Mendham Township Committee accompanied by her husband, John; son Luke, 7; and daughter Zoey, 5, during the committee's reorganization at Mendham Township Middle School Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Administering the oath is Mendham attorney Tom Murphy.

After Thursday's meeting, Spirig chose to focus on her new role rather than the pending litigation, saying she hoped the case "will be over sooner than later."

"I am happy to let the judicial process unfold and do whatever a judge tells me to do at any given point, and in the meantime, just serve the community that I'm really excited to serve," she said in an interview.

The Township Committee appointed Republicans Nick Monaghan and Sarah Neibart as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, for 2023. Spirig nominated fellow Democrat Amalia Duarte for the two positions, but the committee voted along party lines for a 3-2 margin in both cases.

Tracey Moreen — accompanied by her children, from left to right: Harper, 9; Beckett, 7; and Fitz, 5 — takes the oath of office for the Mendham Township Committee, administered by township attorney John Mills, during the committee's reorganization at Mendham Township Middle School Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
Tracey Moreen — accompanied by her children, from left to right: Harper, 9; Beckett, 7; and Fitz, 5 — takes the oath of office for the Mendham Township Committee, administered by township attorney John Mills, during the committee's reorganization at Mendham Township Middle School Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.

Duarte touted the new-look committee as one that "more accurately represents the makeup of our community," with a fairly even split among Republican, Democrat and unaffiliated voters.

"We aren't a red town, we aren't a blue town − we are a purple town," she said. "The election really shows how thoughtful residents are about selecting who they want to support at the local level."

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Mendham NJ swears in Democrat to committee amid lawsuit