Leggio Leads In Howell GOP Mayoral Primary: Unofficial Results

Updated, 9:45 p.m.

HOWELL, NJ — A tight primary battle for the Republican nomination for mayor in Howell Township has John Leggio leading by 66 votes with all districts counted Tuesday night, according to unofficial results.

Leggio had received 1,884 votes with 32 of 32 districts reported, according to the unofficial tallies from the Monmouth County election site. Ian Nadel was second with 1,818 votes, and Fred Gasior had 535, according to the unofficial results.

The winner, once the vote tallies are certified later this month, will face Democrat Matthew Filosa in the general election on Nov. 5. Filosa was unopposed in the Democratic primary for mayor and had received 1,677 votes in the primary, according to the unofficial results.

Mayor Theresa Berger, a Democrat, did not seek re-election this year.

Leggio has billed himself as the "No Strings Attached" candidate. He has campaigning on making changes and bringing new leadership after what he cites as too much infighting on the Township Council. Hear from John Leggio on his campaign's Facebook page.

His campaign had 130 of its signs stolen in early May, prompting a police investigation.

Nadel, the deputy mayor, was the Monmouth County Republican Club choice for mayor, selected over Gasior, who serves on the council. Gasior campaigned as running for the people and not being beholden to political leaders in the county Republican Club.

In addition to the mayoral race, the race for one council seat will pit Evelyn O'Donnell, a current councilwoman, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination and had 3,552 votes with 32 of 32 districts reporting unofficial results.

Rebecca Scott, the Democratic candidate, had 1,685 votes in the unofficial results as of 9:45 p.m.