UPDATE: Spodofora Wins Stafford Republican Mayoral Primary

by Patricia A. Miller

Mayor John Spodofora has won the Republican mayoral primary over his two challengers, Township Councilman Henry Mancini and Conservative Mike Mazzuca, according to the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.

Spodofora received 38.84 percent, or 868 votes. Mancini received 31.77 percent, or 710 votes. Mike Mazzucca received 29.31 percent, or 655 votes.

Spodofora ran on the ”Moving Stafford Forward” slate with current council members Sharon McKenna, Steven Fessler, Robert Kusznikow, local business owners Dave Taylor and Paul Marchal - who both ran against the mayor and council in the last election - and retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Alan Smith.

Five of the six members of the Spodofora slate won the Republican primary for the six seats up on the Township Council.

Alan Smith was the top vote getter with 927 votes, followed by Taylor with 900 votes, Marchal with 893 votes, McKenna with 878 votes and Fessler with 835 votes.

Mancini’s running mates on the “Republicans for Truth and Transparency” slate - Lori Wyrsh and Paul Krier, received 618 votes and 668 votes respectively.

Steven M. Jeffries, who ran on the third Republican slate “Common Sense Conservatives,” received 827 votes and will run in the November election. The slate’s other candidates included Tom Stedman with 792 votes, Peter McCarthy with 737 votes, Eric Libenschek with 800 votes, Greg Myhre with 740 votes and Bruce Haggis with 759 votes..

A full slate of Democratic candidates also filed for mayor and the six council seats that are up for grabs in the November general election. They ran unopposed in the primary.

Former councilwoman Joanne Sitek is running for mayor on the “Official Regular Democratic Organization” ticket with a council slate consisting of Kevin Temple, Joan M. Westvelt, Helen Cocuzza, Nicole Downs, Brian Corley White and Denise Pobick.