Marchand says he won't seek recount

Former Cumberland County Surrogate Arthur Marchand will not request a recount for the Republican state Assembly primary in the 3rd Legislative District, which he lost by a tiny margin.

"I think they know how to count the votes and it would be a fool's errand," said Marchand, who as of yesterday trailed rival Lee Lucas by 66 votes.

Marchand said that even if he beat Lucas - an unlikely scenario given the small number of provisional ballots cast in the district -- he would not want to run with Dr, Robert Villare, who was far and away the top vote getter.

"I'm supposed to run with a guy who says there are too many attorneys and career politicians in Trenton, and a guy who has a residency issue?" he said, referring to the fact that Villare only registered to vote in New Jersey in March and voted in Delaware as recently as November.

Marchand, who has also served as a Freeholder and county prosecutor, blamed his loss entirely on his ballot position, noting that he performed well in his native Cumberland County, where he and running mate George Shivery had the line, but not in Salem and Gloucester Counties, where no lines were awarded.  By luck of the draw, Villare and Lucas wound up on the ballot as the first names below Christopher Christie, who won the gubernatorial nomination.

Lucas, for his part, acknowledged yesterday that not being passed over by the Gloucester County Republicans helped his candidacy immensely.

State Republicans, who do not see Lucas and Villare as viable candidates, have acknowledged that they do not intend to pour any resources into the district.

"The two people who really won this whole thing are [incumbent Assembly Democrats] Celeste Riley and John Burzichelli.  They must have been laughing and celebrating this whole thing," he said, adding that it was a mistake that nobody challenged Villare on his residency.

Both of Marchand's assessments are on the mark, according to state Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford).  Sweeney, who is also Gloucester County's Freeholder Director, is far and away the most influential politician in the district.

Sweeney said that Republicans made a huge mistake by not challenging Villare's residency immediately.  Although he felt that Marchand and Shivery would not give Burzichelli and Riley much trouble, he considered them credible candidates.  Democrats aren't likely to challenge Villare's residency - partly because they feel the ticket does not threaten them.

"The question is do you challenge them so they put someone else on the ballot, or do you leave two guys on who you think you can beat," said Sweeney.

Villare could not be reached for comment, though he told the Press of Atlantic City that the Board of Elections told him there was no residency issue.