From left, Ventnor Commissioners Beth Holtzman, Tim Kriebel and Lance Landgraf.
VENTNOR Voters are sending the incumbent Imagine Ventnor slate of Beth Holtzman, Tim Kriebel and Lance Langraf back to the dais as city commissioners for another four years.
Unofficial results in Tuesday's non-partisan vote-by-mail election show Holtzman received 1,057 votes, Kriebel 979 and Landgraf 968. There were 94 write-ins.
Voters in Atlantic City overwhelmingly defeated a referendum to change to a council-manager form of government with a vote of 3,295 to 985.
Official vote totals won't be known until Friday.
Gov. Phil Murphy's vote-by-mail executive order to stem the spread of COVD-19 allows ballots postmarked by 5 p.m. May 12 to be received at the Atlantic County Board of Elections 48 hours after the close of voting.
Holtzman said she was surprised at the turnout.
Because we were running unopposed, I didn't expect to see that many votes returned, she said. It is a good feeling to realize you have the support of the community.
In the 2016 election, Holtzman received 1,306 votes, Kriebel 1,239, Landgraf 1,179, while challengers Michael Advena received 586 votes and Cassandra Shober 481.
Holtzman said she believes voting by mail was safer and more convenient for voters during this unprecedented time.
We have the elderly in Ventnor, but also a lot of young people with children trying to learn at home, so it was a good thing to be able to vote by mail, she said.
Holtzman said she is hoping to conquer the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening the city and businesses in a safe manner and keep the city moving forward during their second term.
During our first four years we got more accomplished than even we imagined. We hope to continue on that path.
"Four years ago, the residents of Ventnor allowed us to Imagine a different Ventnor. I am honored and humbled that they have supported our vision," Landgraf said. "The election itself was somewhat of a surreal experience during the COVID19 pandemic. The lack of our ability to talk with our resident's face to face over the last few months has made the days up to the election difficult."
Landgraf said despite being unopposed, there is still room for improvement.
"We look forward to supporting and listening to our residents and business owners over the next four years to improve on what we have already accomplished."
Kriebel expressed gratitude the voters' support for a second term.
"I am also thankful to be part of a team with Beth and Lance. The three of us have found ways to combine our strengths and make Ventnor more financially sound and efficiently run."
Kriebel said the team is focused on bringing back businesses and welcoming visitors to the shore's "new normal" in a safe way in the coming weeks and months.
They will be sworn in at noon on Tuesday, May 19. The ceremony will be live streamed on the city's Facebook page.
