Incumbents Sweep Lacey Committee, School Board Races

Lacey incumbents retained all contested seats Tuesday, according to unofficial election results provided by Office of the Ocean County Clerk.

Committeeman Gary Quinn and Mayor Mark Dykoff each earned three-year terms after fending off a challenge from Democratic newcomer Shawn Judson. Quinn picked up 7,783 votes or 39 percent while Dykoff received 7,568 votes or 38 percent of the votes. Judson got 4,389 votes or 22 percent.

Voters elected current school board Vice President Eric Schubiger and incumbent Maureen Tirella to new terms on the Board of Education in a close race over resident Regina Discenza. 

Schubiger picked up 5,602 votes or 37 percent and Tirella got 4,820 votes or 32 percent. Discenza, who has been on the ballot for at least eight years, lost to Tirella by just 2 percent. Discenza received 4,576 votes or 30 percent.

The results show that 19,815 votes were cast for township committee and 15,050 for school board.

For the general election results provided by Township Administrator Veronica Lauriegh, see the attached PDF. Click here for the county's unofficial results.

These figures are not official, as the County Board of Elections has not verified them. The tallying system normally used was down due to power outage issues, Laureigh said.

Provisional and absentee ballots are not expected until Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Return to Lacey Patch tomorrow for reaction from the candidates. 

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Polls were open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday as three candidates vie for two open Township Committee seats and three candidates contend for two open Board of Education seats.

Mayor Mark Dykoff and Committeeman Gary Quinn, whose terms are up Dec. 31, 2011, are up for re-election on the Republican ticket while Democratic newcomer Shawn Judson will try to earn the seat.

The general election can lead to a party power shift on the committee if Judson is voted in as currently; there are three Republicans and two Democrats. A Republican majority has maintained the committee for more than a decade.

Click the links to read the candidate profiles.

Dykoff

Dykoff, 52, of Forked River is the Manager of the Hazlet Motor Vehicle Agency.

Dykoff got involved in government to continue Lacey’s legacy as a “great town,” he said, bringing both a business and common sense to the committee.

The most biggest challenge facing Lacey Township is to run the municipality efficiently while maintaining services and keeping taxes affordable, Dykoff said.

The closure of Oyster Creek Generating Station in 2019 is also a prominent issue.

Alternative energy projects and negotiating shared services are two areas the township is looking into, he said.

Quinn

Quinn, 56, of Forked River is the owner of Eastport Builders.

Quinn got involved in government because he wanted to continue to serve the community after his time with the school board was finished. He hoped to bring more ratables to town.

Lacey continues to battle through a difficult economy, Quinn said, and the only way to help struggling residents is through tax relief or maintaining the current tax level.

Although the last two years were difficult, groundwork has been laid, including restructuring the township with “talented” staff at a lower cost to the township.

Adjustments will have to be made moving forward, fair contracts have to be negotiated and more police officers need to be hired, he said.

Judson

Judson, 56, of Lanoka Harbor is a leader in the Underground Residential Development Department for JCP&L.

She considers herself an “accidental politician.” Recent issues including the power plant and the rail-trail drove Judson to run in the 2012 elections.

Taxes continue to rise and Judson is concerned how the closure of Oyster Creek will impact Lacey economically, she said. Judson is particularly concerned about the spending.

Economically, Judson would like to be more proactive in the area of shared services and receive assistance from the state, county and schools. She would also like to see salaries capped.

Vice President Eric Schubiger and incumbent Maureen Tirella will be up for re-election. Also on the ballot is Regina Discenza.

Click the links below to read the candidate profiles.

Schubiger

Schubiger, 39, of Forked River is the Assistant Township Manager in East Windsor Township.

Schubiger originally ran for the school board because he wanted to be involved in the district where he grew up.

Three terms later, Schubiger feels the greatest challenge facing the district is providing high quality education at an affordable cost.

Schubiger hopes to more effectively communicate to its students and parents about the opportunities available, he said. He is committed to having the district offer a full day kindergarten program for all students.

Tirella

Tirella, 51, of Forked River is a part-time Attorney for Law Guardian and trainer for the Rutgers School of Social Work.

She decided to run after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper in 2008. Now she is running to be re-elected because she feels that although the district has made great strides, there is much work to be done. 

The biggest issues facing the district are academic achievement and providing the support to high school students to make good decisions, she said. The decisions the district is making are providing staff with more support and tools while benefiting the students.

Discenza

Discenza, 51, of Forked River is a stay at home mom.

She has been on the school board ballot for the past eight years. Why does she run? Because no one else does, she said.

She got involved in government when it was announced that Home Depot was coming to town. She chose to run for school board because it controls more tax dollars than the committee.

Major issues facing the district include rising taxes, an abundance of budget transfers, a decrease in enrollment and the solar panel project, she said. She feels that a job audit of the district is needed and would like to bring attention to the district’s parent portals to encourage their involvement in student achievement.

Due to Hurricane Sandy, early voting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Ocean County Administration Building in Toms River and the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Stafford.

Displaced residents may also vote electronically. To do so, displaced voters may submit a mail-in ballot application either by e-mail or fax to their county clerk. Once an application is approved, the clerk will electronically send a ballot to the voter by either fax or e-mail in accordance to the voter’s preference.

Voters must return their electronic ballot either by fax or email no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6. A list of county clerk websites, phone numbers and fax numbers are available by visiting http://nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information-local-officials.html.

For a Lacey Township Voting District Map, see the PDF attached to the story.

You can also use the state's online polling place search tool to find the correct polling place to report to.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Those voting in District 3 and 18 at Murray Grove will be relocated to the Lanoka Harbor First Aid Building at 305 Manchester Ave.

District

Voting Location

1

Forked River Fire Co., Parker Avenue & Oak Street, Forked River

2

Forked River Fire Co., Parker Avenue & Oak Street, Forked River

3

Lanoka Harbor First Aid Building, Manchester Ave., Lanoka Harbor instead of Murray Grove Retreat & Conference Center

4

Lanoka Harbor Fire Co., Route 9 & Warren Avenue, Lanoka Harbor

5

Community Hall, Route 9 & Lacey Road, Forked River

6

Community Hall, Route 9 & Lacey Road, Forked River

7

Knights of Columbus, 15 East Lacey Rd., Forked River

8

Knights of Columbus, 15 East Lacey Rd., Forked River

9

Lacey Township Municipal Building- Downstairs Lobby, 818 W. Lacey Rd., Forked River

10

Lacey Township Municipal Building- Court Room, 818 W. Lacey Rd., Forked River

11

Pheasant Run Clubhouse, 45 Canterbury Dr., Forked River

12

Lacey Recreation Department- Conference Room, Veterans Way, Forked River

13

Lanoka Harbor Fire Co., Route 9 & Warren Avenue, Lanoka Harbor

14

Community Hall, Route 9 & Lacey Road, Forked River

15

Knights of Columbus, 15 East Lacey Rd., Forked River

16

Lacey Recreation Department- Conference Room, Veterans Way, Forked River

17

Knights of Columbus, 15 East Lacey Rd., Forked River

18

Lanoka Harbor First Aid Building, Manchester Ave., Lanoka Harbor instead of Murray Grove Retreat & Conference Center

For a “How To” on voting, see our voters guide by clicking here.