Politics & Government

D'Arpino is Not Running, Although Name is on Ballot

Austin D'Arpino, who originally was running with Scott Lunn, said he doesn't know why it's on there.

Even though Austin D’Arpino’s name is on Tuesday’s ballot as a township committee candidate, the 23-year-old college student—who originally was running with Independent Scott Lunn—is out of the race.

And he has been for quite some time.

Over the summer, D’Arpino, a 2006 graduate, decided to run with Lunn.

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“I didn’t really consider running until March,” said D’Arpino Monday evening. “A few things happened over the summer that had to take priority over this, so I had to take care of that.”

D’Arpino did not think his name would even be on the ballot. When he had originally submitted his petition, he said, the county clerk contacted him to say the paperwork was incomplete.

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When he got that letter, he said, he had already decided not to run.

“So, I didn’t even complete the information,” D’Arpino said. “I figured I wouldn’t be on the ballot. That wasn’t the case.”

On ballots sent to homes in Cinnaminson residents last week, D’Arpino’s name is under Lunn’s for the Accountability and Civility party.

D’Arpino contacted the county clerk’s office when he saw his name on the ballot, but was told since absentee ballots already went out, his name cannot be removed.

D’Arpino spoke with Cinnaminson Patch Monday night. The county clerk’s office was unavailable for comment at that time.

“There’s other things that I want to do with my education and my future right now,” he said.

He said when he originally decided to run for office, he was putting himself “in a unique position” for “the future of many young people like myself.”

The Rutgers-Camden student, who is in his senior year of studying public policy, said he wants to work in some government capacity, and won’t rule out running for office again in the future. 


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