Toms River Primary Election 2023: What To Know

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The 2023 Primary election is quickly approaching for New Jersey voters, and those in Toms River have a particularly full list of candidates to consider at the municipal level.

Primary Day is June 6, and Republicans and Democrats will choose their parties' nominees for mayor and three at-large council seats that are up for election in November in Toms River.

The Republican primary has four mayoral candidates and nine people seeking to be the council candidates. The Democratic council primary is contested as well, with four people seeking the three slots for the November ballot. There is one person seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor.

Tuesday, May 16 is the last day to register to vote in the primary election, and May 30 is the deadline for the Ocean County Clerk to receive mailed requests for a vote-by-mail ballot. In-person requests for a vote-by-mail ballot can be made until 3 p.m. June 5.

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 deposited at any of the four dropboxes in Toms River: Ocean County Parking Garage, 3rd Floor, Madison Avenue; Ocean County Courthouse, 118 Washington St.; PIC Inc. of Ocean County, 1959 Route 9; or the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St. Dropboxes are under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Early voting for the Primary Election will be June 2-4, at 10 sites in Ocean County, including the Ocean County Library's main branch in Toms River. Early voting will be 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 2; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. June 3, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 4.

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

THE REPUBLICAN MUNICIPAL PRIMARY

The four mayoral candidates are Maurice "Mo" Hill; Geri Ambrosio; Daniel Rodrick and Robert Bianchini. Hill, Ambrosio and Rodrick each have council candidate slates affiliated with them; Bianchini is running without a council slate.

Hill, the incumbent, is seeking re-election with Kevin Geoghegan, Joshua Kopp, and Matthew Lotano seeking to return to the at-large council seats. Ambrosio's running mates are R. Garry Mundy, Norvella "Pug" Lightbody and Sergio Fossa. Rodrick's running mates are Thomas Nivinson, Lynn O'Toole, and Craig Coleman.

THE DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL PRIMARY

John Furey is running unopposed for the Democratic mayoral nomination. His slate of council candidates is Michele Williams, Rhetta Jackson-Fair and Kajal Lal. Paul C. Williams is challenging for one of the council nominations.

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 Emmma 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 Toms River, 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.