Manchester, Jackson among Ocean County Mayor races picking up steam heading into Election Day
Several municipalities have a Council/Committee race but there are 11 towns in Ocean County with a Mayor's race in the General Election this year -- Barnegat Light, Island Heights, Jackson, Lavallette, Manchester, Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant Borough, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, and Tuckerton.
There's also a Township Committee race of note in Lacey.
You the voter are the ultimate decider of who stays in office and who wins an office in any race this and all elections -- something to remember.
Of the 11 Ocean County municipalities where there is a Mayor race this year, only 5 of them are contested races -- Jackson, Manchester, Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant Borough, and South Toms River -- with the other 6 having no opponent heading into Election Day itself.
Manchester and Jackson are also non-partisan races.
Yesterday we broke down all the races you'll see on the ballots next Tuesday, so, today we're taking a little bit of a deeper look at some of the candidates and news regarding and in these races.
Jackson.
In Jackson Township, here is another look, to start, of the candidates running for Mayor.
Experience Leadership United Moving Jackson Forward -- Michael Reina.
Reina has been the Mayor of Jackson Township since 2008 and this year is running with Jennifer Kuhn, and Scott Sargent who are seeking spots on the township council.
The mayor race has drawn some negative attention and alleged possible criminal activity as well when someone posted a picture of a noose under a political Facebook post saying "Mike needs a new necklace" which was followed by a truck driver spitting at Reina's daughter and calling her a vulgarity.
Police are looking into the social media post.
Homegrown Leadership Working For Jackson -- Martin Flemming, III.
Flemming is a Councilman in Jackson Township having become elected in 2019 and in 2022 has served as the Council President after serving as Council Vice-President in 2021, according to centraljersey.com.
He also owns County Line Hardware in Jackson and is a member of the Whitesville Fire Company, according to the Jackson GOP.
Flemming is running with Andrew Kern and Samara O'Neill who are seeking spots on the township council.
Manchester.
In Manchester Township, here is another look, to start, of the candidates for Mayor.
Manchester Deserves Better -- Ken Seda.
Manchester First - Continued Good Government -- Robert Hudak.
The Right Choice For Manchester -- Robert Arace.
Ken Seda has served in a number of roles over the years including as a Counselor and Community Advocate, according to his website.
Seda is running along with Gloria Adkinson and Karen Sugden for two spots on the township council.
You can get a full look at what they said they collectively plan to address if elected into/back into office, right here.
Robert Hudak was elected to the Manchester Township Council in 2019 and won the 2021 election to become Mayor.
Hudak is running with current Council President Joan Brush and Timothy Poss who are seeking two seats on the township council.
You can get a full look at what they said they collectively plan to address if elected into/back into office, right here.
Robert Arace is currently on the Manchester Township Zoning Board and previously served on the Beachwood Recreation Committee, according to his website, and carries a business background with focused skill sets in Marketing and Analytics.
Arace is running with Joe Hankins, a current Patrol Sergeant with the Manchester Police Department, and with Roxanne Conniff, a Manchester High School Alumni with a job in business.
You can get a full look at what they said they collectively plan to address if elected, right here.
Ocean Gate.
In the borough of Ocean Gate, it's a clean slate as two candidates are running to fill the mayor seat left vacant by the recently resigned Paul Kennedy following criminal charges related to multiple theft related incidents.
Ocean Gate Council President David Kendrick has been the acting Mayor since Kennedy resigned from office earlier this year.
Republican -- Robert "Bob" Curtin.
Democrat -- Dennis Stagliano.
On the Republican ticket running for borough council in Ocean Gate is Joella Nicastro and Robert Livingston.
On the Democrat ticket running for borough council in Ocean Gate is James McGrath and Robert Waldron, Jr.
Point Pleasant Borough.
In the borough of Point Pleasant, the race for mayor this year has some internal intrigue with the incumbent mayor Robert Sabosik facing opposition from Councilman Bill Borowsky who is running as an Independent.
Republican -- Robert Sabosik.
Democrat -- No Nominations Made.
Time For Change -- William "Bill" Borowsky.
Borowsky has proposed some changes that he is running on and that, if elected, plans on implementing in the borough.
The Point Pleasant Borough Republican Club reportedly, earlier this year, endorsed Sabosik for re-election.
South Toms River.
In the borough of South Toms River, there is a mayoral race to fill the spot of Gregory Handshy who passed away this summer.
Gidalty "Gigi" Esparza took over the role of Mayor of South Toms River following his passing and for the remainder of the year, as previously reported by The Patch.
Republican -- Oscar Cradle.
Democrat -- Debra Di Donato.
Tonya Mosley and Thomas Rolzhausen are the Republicans on the ballot running for two spots on the borough Council this Election.
Jameal Calhoun and Robert Hailey are the Democrats on the ballot running for two spots on the borough Council this Election.
Whoever you decide to vote for, just remember to make the time to vote on Tuesday November 8.
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