Winner undetermined in mayor’s race

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- The vote count said Mayor James Whelan won re-election Tuesday, but it was his opponent who was celebrating.

Whelan outpolled City Councilman Lorenzo Langford 4,202 to 4,145, but Langford claimed victory anyway, saying that the more than 1,500 unopened absentee ballots would propel him past Whelan.

The Atlantic County Board of Elections, whose four members spent the day examining absentee ballots to verify their authenticity, quit before 9 p.m. without having counted any of them.

As a result, there was no official winner.

Whelan, 52, a lifelong Democrat who chose to run as an Independent this year, was hoping his accomplishments in 12 years on the job would win over voters. In campaigning, he cited lower crime rates and the city's improving physical condition and said he needed four more years to complete the job.

Langford, a former casino dealer, positioned himself as a fresh face who would pay more attention to residents' needs. He criticized Whelan for siding with casinos over residents and said he would return fiscal responsibility to City Hall.

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