Hill Wins Toms River Mayoral Race, Edging Petro

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Who will be the next mayor of Toms River? It appears it will be Maurice "Mo" Hill.

According to unofficial tallies, and with all 63 districts reporting, Republican Maurice "Mo" Hill edged Democrat Jonathan Petro in the race to become the successor to Thomas Kelaher as mayor of Toms River.

Hill had 11,135 votes to 10,870 for Petro, a 265-vote margin in a race that was expected to go down to the wire.

"It was a hard-fought race," said Art Gallagher, campaign manager for Hill and his council mates. "This team of candidates is the hardest working group I have ever worked with."

"Toms River will have experienced and honest leadership," he said.

Messages left for Petro seeking comment were not returned late Tuesday.

The race for three at-large council seats was not close at all. Newcomers Matthew Lotano and Joshua Kopp, along with former councilman Kevin Geoghegan, easily outdistanced their Democratic opponents. The closest Democrat, Michele Williams, trailed Geoghegan by nearly 2,500 votes, according to the unofficial tallies.

Here are the unofficial vote totals. (As of 10 p.m., with 63 of 63 districts reporting.) Get updates on Toms River news delivered to your inbox by subscribing to the Toms River Patch newsletter.

MAYOR — four-year term

Maurice "Mo" Hill — 11,145
Jonathan Petro — 10,870

COUNCIL — three, four-year terms

Matthew Lotano — 12,112
Joshua Kopp — 11,609
Kevin Geoghegan — 11,612
Drew Boyle — 9,040
Karin Sage — 9,039
Michele Williams — 9,187

The race between Petro, the Democrat, and Hill, the Republican, to become the next mayor of Toms River has been heated, with much of the focus on the continuing debate about development in the township, particularly in the North Dover section next to Lakewood.

Hill has been accused of being overly influenced by the Orthodox Jewish community in connection with the development issues. Petro, meanwhile, has been accused of being anti-Semitic because the concerns about influence on development and zoning decisions have been raised by his campaign.

Hill won the Republican nomination amid infighting among Republicans in the township that was sparked in part by the conviction of long-time party boss George Gilmore on charges related to tax evasion. Hill defeated Joseph Coronato, the former Ocean County prosecutor who had the backing of Gilmore for the mayoral race, and fellow councilman Daniel Rodrick for the nomination.

Petro, a family law attorney and the head of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce, did not face a challenge for the Democratic nomination.

The council race, though important to the potential balance of power on the council, which currently has two Democrats and five Republicans, took a back seat to the mayoral race. Regardless of who wins, the council will have three new faces; only Geoghegan has served on the council previously, as an appointed member.

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