Point Pleasant Beach Primary Election 2023: Voting Information

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — It is Primary Day for New Jersey voters, and those in Point Pleasant Beach have contested Republican primary races to consider at the municipal level.

Voters will be choosing Republican candidates for mayor and for two seats on the Borough Council in the primary. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voters to cast ballots in person.

New Jersey has a closed primary, which means only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary, and only Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary. You can declare a party affiliation when you register.

Voters who are not affiliated with any party can declare a party affiliation at the polls to vote in one of the primaries.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on June 6 and can be deposit at the Point Pleasant branch of the Ocean County Library, on Beaver Dam Road, or at any of the other dropboxes in the county. Dropboxes are under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

On Primary Day, June 6, the polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. See the Point Pleasant Beach sample ballot.

THE REPUBLICAN MUNICIPAL PRIMARY

There are three candidates seeking the Republican nomination for mayor for the November ballot. Arlene Testa, a current Point Pleasant Beach councilwoman, is running as the Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County candidate. Douglas Vitale, the current president of the Point Pleasant Beach council, is running under the banner "Proven Leader-Putting Point Beach First", and Stephen D. Reid, the former mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, is running under the banner "Point Beach Republicans for Responsible Government".

Reid, who was defeated by Paul Kanitra in 2019, has been campaigning on cutting what he says is $500,000 in wasteful spending by the borough to reduce taxes and on transparency. He has criticized Kanitra's administration, accusing it of abuse of power over the approved-then-withdrawn eminent domain declaration on the Amethyst Beach Motel. He also has pledged to resume the free trolley service that operated, which was paid for by businesses and advertising, and to continue to invest in recreational opportunities in the borough. Reid also has been critical of Testa, who did not participate in either of two debates that were held, including one moderated by the League of Women Voters of Southern Monmouth County. You can watch it here.

Testa has responded to Reid's criticism by saying she was unable to attend the debates and that she has been going door-to-door to talk with residents directly. She has pledged to continue efforts of the four years under Kanitra to expand community involvement and recreation offerings while keeping the town affordable.

Vitale is touting his work on the finance, police and recreation committees of the council and says he pledges to continue to expand recreation offerings. He has highlighted grant funding the borough has received as part of efforts to limit tax rate increases and says the borough will continue to look for more opportunities to gain grants.

All three have pledged to keep fighting against the proposed offshore wind projects.

There are four Republicans seeking the GOP nomination for the two Borough Council seats. Arthur Gant Sr. and Caryn Byrnes are running as the Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County candidates. David Betten is running under the banner "Betten for the Beach," and Karen "Kitty" Stillufsen is running under "Kitty Stillufsen for Council".

THE DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL PRIMARY

There are no Democratic candidates for mayor and only one Democratic candidate for Borough Council, Lawrence "Larry" Schwartz.

OCEAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SURROGATE

There are two Republicans seeking the nomination for the lone three-year Ocean County commissioner seat up for election in November. Current Commissioner Joseph Vicari announced he is not seeking re-election after 40 years of serving on the county board.

Frank Sadeghi received the endorsement of the Regular Republican Club of Ocean County, and Francis "Frank" Quinn is running with the Toms River First Republicans. county commissioners.
Republican Jeffrey Moran is seeking another term as surrogate.

Jeff J. Horn is the Democratic candidate for state Senate, and his Assembly running mates are John LaMacchia and Emma Mammano.

Roxanne L. Barnes is seeking the Democratic nomination for the county commissioner election, and Charles D. Bauer is seeking the Democratic nomination for surrogate.

NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE

In December 2021, the state underwent redistricting, as required by law every 10 years. While the congressional district changed for Point Pleasant Beach, its New Jersey legislative district did not, and residents are still represented by the 10th District.

State Sen. James Holzapfel is seeking the Republican nomination; he has served in the Senate since 2012, and had served in the Assembly before that, from 1994-2011.

Assemblyman Gregory McGuckin is seeking his seventh term, and he is joined on the GOP Assembly ticket by Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra, who received the support of both the Ocean and Monmouth County Republican clubs to seek the seat currently held by John Catalano. Catalano, who succeeded David Wolfe, is leaving the Assembly and running for mayor in Brick Township.

The winners of the 2023 primary election will gain their party’s nomination for the general election on Nov. 7.