In Camden County, a 5-term mayor loses

After a campaign marked by finger-pointing and counterattacks, Chesilhurst Mayor Arland W. Poindexter Jr. lost his bid for a sixth term to Borough Council President Michael Blunt in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

"I think the residents want something different," said Blunt, who became the council president two years ago. He added, "I'm not going to talk the talk unless I can walk the walk."

Councilman Robert McCann finished third with 10 percent of the vote, behind Blunt's 58 percent and Poindexter's 32 percent.

"I was hurt and all by the number, but it was the people's will," McCann said last night. "The Borough of Chesilhurst is going to get just what it elected - totalitarian, one-man rule."

Poindexter could not be reached for comment last night.

Former allies, Blunt, who is also the borough's operations manager, and McCann ran on a platform for change, but there they parted company.

"It's time to clean up the mess," was McCann's campaign slogan.

McCann contended that "Mayor Poindexter, who I respect, and Michael Blunt, who I despise, have not really pushed the borough forward."

Calling himself "the lone renegade," McCann said Blunt has had a lock on the council. He pointed to an audit, released in the spring, that faulted the borough for overspending and other fiscal shortcomings.

McCann has also alleged that Blunt was behind animal-cruelty charges pending against McCann and his mother, Rita Dickerson, 67, involving the death of nine of his dog's puppies during a cold snap in the winter.

Blunt, in an interview this week, denied having anything to do with the charges. Of the audit, he said some of the cited problems already had been corrected.

Blunt said he had made progress in moving the borough forward. He accused "insurgents" loyal to Poindexter and former Council President Elaris Robinson of "sabotaging" his efforts at times.

No Republican is running for mayor.

Karen Chew and Russell Hirn, who ran on Blunt's slate, won the Democratic nod to run against Republican Council candidates Samuel White Jr. and Michael Curtis. Losing were Robinson, the former council president; Moses R. Hayes Jr., who ran with Poindexter; and LeBaron Vaughn, who ran with McCall.

In Gloucester Township's first partisan primary for the council, six Republicans and five Democrats faced off to compete for four seats in November.

County Democratic Committee-endorsed incumbents Glen V. Bianchini and Orlando Mercado won nominations with newcomers Kenneth H. Garbowski and Crystal Evans. Evans was the top vote-getter. Challenger Walter E. Dority Jr. finished fifth.

County GOP-endorsed candidates Sharon L. Mickle, Linda C. Musser, Dominick Brown and Stephen T. Keeler bested John C. Barrett and Lanny Frederick.

Mayor Cindy Rau-Hatton is a Republican, but Democrats hold a 6-1 council majority. County Republicans are eyeing November.

"If our slate were to win, Republicans would control the Township Council," County Republican chairman Rick De Michele said.

Taxes, development and cost-cutting were significant issues in the race.

In Merchantville, Steven Volkert defeated Gail E. Ford in the GOP primary for the unexpired Borough Council term of Frank North, who has been elected mayor by his fellow council members.

In the GOP contest to run for two full terms in November, Mark Brunton and Nicholas DiMatteo beat Marvin C. Gaskill and Rosemari Hicks.

James F. Kelly Jr. will seek the unexpired term for the Democrats, while Christina Wintters and Anthony J. Perno III are running for the full terms.

Chesilhurst Borough

Mayor

Vote for one.

Democratic

Arland W. Poindexter Jr.. . . 96

Michael Blunt. . . 173

Robert McCann. . . 29

Council

Vote for two.

Democratic

Elaris Robinson. . . 98

Moses R. Hayes Jr.. . . 91

Russell Hirn. . . 162

Karen Chew. . . 164

LeBaron Vaughn. . . 26

Gloucester Township

Council

Vote for four (97% of vote).

Democratic

Glen V. Bianchini. . . 897

Orlando Mercado. . . 908

Crystal Evans. . . 934

Kenneth H. Garbowski. . . 901

Walter E. Dority Jr.. . . 215

Republican

Sharon L. Mickle. . . 609

Stephen T. Keeler. . . 589

Linda C. Musser. . . 604

Dominick Brown. . . 585

John C. Barrett. . . 139

Lanny Frederick. . . 133

Merchantville Borough

Council

Vote for two.

Republican

Mark Brunton. . . 133

Nicholas DiMatteo. . . 130

Rosemari Hicks. . . 62

Marvin C. Gaskill. . . 75

Council (unexpired term)

Vote for one.

Republican

Steven Volkert. . . 117

Gail E. Ford. . . 92

Contact staff writer Rita Giordano at 856-779-3841 or rgiordano@phillynews.com.