Oakland mayoral vote recount changes numbers, but not outcome

OAKLAND — By 21 votes, Republican Councilman Eric Kulmala maintained his margin of victory as mayor in Friday's mayoral election recount.

The final count, said Richard Miller, chairman of the Bergen County Board of Elections, was Kulmala 2,193, Democrat Mayor Linda Schwager 2,172.

"I can only say that the new machines did not count all the votes," Miller said. "It's a totally different system and I was against it from the beginning. Hopefully, this will shed light on the subject, and encourage the county to revisit the machines we used to use."

The recount had been requested by Schwager last month after Kulmala emerged a 56-vote victor in their election rematch. Schwager had won their original faceoff four years ago by 67 votes.

"We are pleased with the outcome," Kulmala said after the recount.

The result means Oakland will have an all-Republican, all-male council for the first time since Schwager was first elected mayor in 2011.

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Schwager cited the problems with voting in her recount appeal, stating that "people left the lines after waiting 45 minutes to an hour to vote, stating they assumed I would win."

"Something is very wrong when I gain over 30 votes in a recount," Schwager said after the ruling. "No one has ever seen such a dramatic difference in votes in a recount on the municipal level."

Schwager said: "I'll be back, I love Oakland."

Kulmala will be sworn in as mayor at the Borough Council's reorganization session on Jan. 7.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Oakland NJ mayor vote recount changes numbers, not outcome