GOP Primary Battle: Reid, Kanitra, Council Vie For Republican Nod

Point Pleasant Beach isn't quiet about its politics, but this has been one of the loudest primary battles in recent memory.

Now they'll finally have a chance to pick Republican nominees for mayor and council on Tuesday after one of the most contentious campaigns in recent memory.

Councilman Paul Kanitra is seeking to unseat Mayor Stephen Reid while Point Pleasant Beach Councilman Tom Toohey and Council President Tom Vogel will run for re-election against Arlene Testa and Doug Vitale.

The polls close at 8 p.m.

The campaign has been contentious in tone and actions. Fliers have appeared that some candidates believe have been too negative, if not outrageous.

But much of the contentiousness has been there from the start, ever since Reid won the endorsement of the Republican Club back in March – even though Kanitra insisted he got more votes from people who were really eligible to participate.

Ultimately, Ocean County Assignment Judge Marlene Lynch Ford nullified the 115-110 vote that would have given Reid the "county-line" on the ballot, citing "irregularities" in the way the vote was handled. Read more: See Judge's Order That Threw Out Point Pleasant Beach GOP Vote

Reid initially sought to build on what he considers his successful term as mayor – citing the town's improving beach and business climate – by running for Assembly. When he bowed out of that race, the battle to be renominated in the heavily Republican town began.

Kanitra has argued that Reid does not have the town's best interests at heart. Reid has also been criticized for serving as a public official while lobbying against marijuana legalization across the state.

Reid has sought to turn the tables on Kanitra, calling on his GOP Primary opponent to quit recently after a New Jersey Globe report said the councilman owes $151,541 in taxes.

Reid made the call as Kanitra, in an interview with Patch, did not dispute The New Jersey Globe report and said he's on a payment plan, adding: "I anticipate they'll (his taxes) be totally taken care of by the end of the year."

Read more: Point Beach Mayor Calls On Councilman To Quit After Tax Report