Eatontown Mayoral Race: Anthony Talerico vs. Jasmine Story, Both Dems

EATONTOWN, NJ — It's now Democrat versus Democrat in this spring's race Eatontown mayoral race.

Current Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico, Jr. will now be challenged by Jasmine Story, also a Democrat. Story used to be an Eatontown councilwoman. The Eatontown Republican Party said it plans to circulate a write-in candidate for the June primary.

As Patch reported last week, Story petition to run was initially rejected by the Eatontown clerk.

But Story sued, and won her lawsuit Monday, April 18 in Monmouth County Superior Court.

The town clerk originally rejected Story's petition because she filed it "jointly" with two other Democrats, Todd Miller and Angela Brunelli, who are running for Eatontown council.

When Story submitted her name to run — plus the signatures of 29 people who supported her — she submitted the signatures on behalf of herself, Miller and Brunelli. This is known as "joint filing," and it is sometimes not accepted by town clerks in New Jersey municipal races.

On Monday, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Sheedy ruled that the clerk's interpretation — while not malicious or done with ill will — was not correct.

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon was also named in Story's lawsuit, but she did not respond when Patch asked her to comment on this story.

According Story, several Eatontown Republicans also filed jointly this year, and their petitions were similarly rejected by the town clerk. Eatontown Republicans filed a joint petition for mayoral and council candidates.

But Story said the Eatontown Republicans declined to join her lawsuit, although she invited them.

However, the Eatontown Republican Party disputes that, and said Story never invited them to join her legal challenge. They also called her lawsuit "petty" and an attempt to besmirch the character of the Eatontown town clerk.

"Contrary to the statement provided by Ms. Story, the Eatontown Republicans were not invited by her to join in her complaint against clerk Julie Martin and the borough of Eatontown," said Eatontown Republican chairman Mark Regan, Sr. "We were, however, made aware of the injunction by our attorney and chose not to involve ourselves in a petty suit attempting to besmirch the character of a beloved borough employee who was performing her duties (referring to town clerk Martin). Admirably, mind you."

"Moreover, we look forward to securing a write-in Republican candidate for the upcoming June primary," he said.

Previous "joint filings" have historically been accepted in Eatontown, as well as other towns, according to Story.

Which Democrat will Eatontown voters choose for mayor, Story, Talerico or the as-of-yet-unknown Republican?

There are also two seats up on the Eatontown town Council: Current Council members Kevin Gonzalez and Maria Grazia Escalante (both Republican) are asking voters to re-elect them this year. Four Democrats are also running for those two seats: Miller, Brunelli, Virginia East and Meir Araman.

The primary election is June 7; the general election is in November.

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