In an election that many believed would be too close to call, Bayonne Police Director Mark Smith led a field of five candidates to become the next mayor of Bayonne, filling the unexpired term of Joseph Doria.
Results received by press time Tuesday night showed that Smith collected 45 percent of the vote, beating his chief challenger, retired Bayonne Municipal Judge Patrick Conaghan, who had 34 percent.
The special election was held because Doria resigned last year to become the commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs.
Rest of the field
Tuesday night, Conaghan blasted former Bayonne Mayor Richard Rutkowski for, in his opinion, giving Smith the election. Rutkowski finished in third place with 14 percent of the vote.
City Clerk Robert Sloan finished with 5 percent, followed by Zoning Board of Adjustments member Raymond Rokicki with 3 percent.
Victory speech
Tuesday night, Smith returned to his Broadway headquarters to thunderous cheers, but took time to also celebrate the victory of Freeholder Doreen DiDomenico, who ran with Smith and beat Denis Wilbeck by a margin of less than 10 percent.
Speaking to his supporters about his win, Smith forecast a transformation.
“I promise you from this day forward, we are going to change Bayonne,” he said. “It is not just a campaign slogan.”
He also praised his supporters.
“While it is impossible for me to thank every one of you individually,” he said, “I am humbled by your support and by your commitment to this city.”
He said their involvement in this election – which he described as a “heck” of a journey – spoke volumes about how much they cared about the city.
“All of them worked hard,” he said.
County Executive Tom DeGise had appeared earlier in the night to give his support to Smith, saying he believed Smith would make a good mayor.
Freeholder Chairman Jeff Dublin also made an appearance, after having campaigned in Bayonne in October on Smith’s behalf.
“I was impressed by his ability to lead,” Dublin said.
Campaign analysis
Although not all of the final numbers were available by press time, in the 1st Ward, Smith received 3,167 voting machine votes to 2,423 for Conaghan.
The numbers for the other two wards were incomplete, but showed similar percentage leads for Smith.
Of the more than 700 absentee ballots counted prior to the closing of the polls, Smith also led significantly.
The race was close until the last minute. Two hours before the polls closed, exit polls by the Conaghan camp showed Smith and Conaghan in a dead heat with 38 percent each. But apparently a last-minute surge in votes put Smith over the top.
Several Conaghan supporters said that Smith’s campaign as a hero and his campaign’s ability to emphasize his positive image as a leader gave him the unexpectedly wide victory.
High turnout
Tuesday night, before the election, State Assemblyman and Bayonne Councilman Anthony Chiappone said he had worked hard on behalf of Conaghan, but that the results were unpredictable because the special election for mayor was being held at the same time as the general election for president of the United States. This resulted in a higher turnout than usual.
Bayonne’s turnout was estimated to be more than 70 percent, significantly higher than the 54 percent that turned out for the municipal election in 2006.
Smith’s campaign manager, Jason O’Donnell, said he had received a good feeling on the street during the final days, but criticized what he called “scurrilous attacks” against Smith in Conaghan’s campaign advertisements.
Smith campaign coordinator Steve Gallo called the Smith campaign “well organized,” noting that it was a six-month campaign for mayor when most municipal elections are merely six weeks long.
“I believe there are better days ahead for Bayonne, and that Mayor Smith will execute his plan to help the city of Bayonne,” Gallo said. “We believe that he will try to work with all the people of Bayonne, including those who worked for other candidates, to help make the city better in the future.”
Michael O’Connor, another Smith supporter, credited O’Donnell with building a campaign staff that brought about the victory.
Dan Valentine, founder of the Bayonne Hispanic Association, said that Latinos make up 20 percent of the population of Bayonne, and many had come out to vote for Smith.
“We believe Smith will be more accessible to our needs,” Valentine said.
Smith will serve as mayor until July 1, 2010. The next municipal election will be held in May, 2010 to determine who will serve a full four-year term.