Vicari Wins 12th Term On Ocean County Freeholder Board

Joseph H. Vicari was handily re-elected to his 12th term on the Ocean County Board of Freeholders on Tuesday.

He defeated Democrat Timothy E. Ryan with 72,527 votes, or 54.48 percent, compared to Ryan’s 54,113 votes, or 40.65 percent. Independents Brian Pizza and Tracy M. Caprioni received 3,999 and 2,386 votes respectively, according to figures provided by the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.

No Democrat has been elected to the freeholder board since 1989, when Paul Brush and Mark A. Troncone were elected.

Ryan’s focus on the campaign was what he said was Vicari’s close relationship with Joseph A. Veni, a engineering consultant who received $150,00 last year from the county and was provided a office of his own. Both men are named in a sexual harassment suit filed by Rosemary Mennoni, who claimed in a lawsuit filed earlier this year that she suffered gender discrimination and sexual harassment, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Ryan also claimed that Vicari was under investigation by the FBI, based on statements made by William A. Santos, the retired superintendent of the county Buildings and Grounds Department. Santos said FBI agents came to his home in June 2013 three times to ask about Vicari and Veni, according to the Asbury Park Press.