Toms River Election 2017: Dems Break All-GOP Hold On Council

TOMS RIVER, NJ — (Updated, 10:10 p.m.) The Toms River Township Council will no longer be solely in Republican hands, at least for the next four years, as the Democrats have picked up three seats on Tuesday, two of them by very slim margins.

According to unofficial results, Democrat Daniel Rodrick defeated incumbent Councilman Kevin Geoghegan 3,874 to 3,203 for the Ward 2 seat. Democrat Laurie Huryk edged Republican Louis Gallipoli II by 61 votes in Ward 3, and in Ward 4, Democrat Terrance Turnbach defeated incumbent Councilman Alfonso Manforti by by 142 votes.

Only incumbent Councilwoman Maria Maruca in Ward 1 held onto her seat, defeating Democratic challenger Anthony Colucci by 285 votes.

In the race for the Toms River Regional Board of Education, former board member Ginny Rhine was the top vote-getter, with 8,408, with Michelle Williams second with 7,866. Michael Horgan, with 6,945, edged Teri Kubiel, with 6,732, for the third seat.

Here are the unofficial results of local races; x- denotes winner.

COUNCIL (4 Ward Races Only, no at-large seats; four-year terms)

WARD 1
Anthony Colucci (D) 2,917
x-Maria Maruca (R) 3,202

WARD 2
x-Daniel Rodrick (D) 3,874
Kevin Geoghegan (R) 3,203

WARD 3
x-Laurie Huryk (D) 2,625
Louis J. Gallipoli II (R) 2,542

WARD 4
x-Terrance Turnbach (D) 2,810
Alfonso Manforti (R) 2,668

TOMS RIVER REGIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION
(3 three-year terms)

x-Ginny Rhine 8,408
x-Michael Horgan 6,945
Robert Onofrietti Jr. 4,939
Stephen J. Kaczala 5,257
Teri Kubiel 6,732
x-Michele Williams 7,866
Al Schwartz 4,932

SOUTH TOMS RIVER COUNCIL (2 three-year terms)

Robert Taylor (D) 275
x-Edward Murray (R) 358
x-Sandford Ross Jr. (R) 374

OCEAN COUNTY FREEHOLDER (1 three-year term)
Helen Dela Cruz (D) 58,544
x-Joe Vicari (R) 84,762
Barry Bendar (I) 2,756

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