Municipal Election Results - Walsh Act Era
Charlie Kratovil made this OPRA request to New Brunswick City This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear New Brunswick City,
Under OPRA and the common law right of access, please provide complete election results (including district breakdowns, total votes cast, and preferential vote breakdowns, if applicable) for each municipal government election held in the City of New Brunswick under the Walsh Act (Commission) form of government, including the regular elections held in April 1915, May 1919, May 1923, May 1927, May 1931, May 1935, May 1939, May 1943, May 1947, May 1951, May 1955, May 1959, May 1963, May 1967, as well as the special municipal election held on March 6, 1917, and any other special municipal elections held during this time period (1915-1970). Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Kratovil
Mr. Kratovil,
My office is in receipt of your request, dated November 24, 2021 and received on November 26, 2021. The records for which you are inquiring about and indicated in your email below, dating back to 1915, were searched for, and we have concluded there are no records responsive to your request.
Regards,
Leslie R. Zeledón, City Clerk
City of New Brunswick
78 Bayard Street, Rm. 201
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732.745.5041 (phone)
732.745.5009 (fax)
Dear Leslie Zeledon,
Just to clarify, the City does not have any of the results of municipal elections from 1915-1970? Are you sure?
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Kratovil
I am currently out of the office. Please call (732) 745-5041 or email my Deputy Clerk, Shalon T. Bennett at [email address] for assistance. Thank you.
City Clerk,
Leslie R. Zeledón
Dear New Brunswick City,
I am writing in furtherance of my OPRA request for election results. Are you able to confirm that the city government has not maintained records of the election results for the 55 years that the city was governed under a Walsh Act Charter? Can you please verify? Why weren't these records be preserved permanently?
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Kratovil
Dear Mr. Kratovil,
In furtherance of my response to your OPRA request dated November 24, 2021 and received on November 26, 2021, be advised that, as stated, there are no records responsive to your request. In regard to your most recent questions, current NJ State Records Management Services Retention Schedule calls for the retention of municipal election returns for a period of 5 years. After the 5 year period those records may be destroyed.
Regards,
Leslie R. Zeledón, City Clerk
City of New Brunswick
78 Bayard Street, Rm. 201
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732.745.5041 (phone)
732.745.5009 (fax)