School Board Candidate Wants Opponent Barred From Ballot In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A candidate for the Toms River Regional Board of Education is seeking to have another candidate barred from the ballot in November, alleging he was not present when some people signed his petition, according to court documents.

Kathy Eagan, who is seeking election to a third term on the board, filed a complaint in Ocean County Superior Court on Aug. 8 seeking to have George Lobman disqualified as a candidate over his nominating petition.

On the nominating petition, Lobman swears he circulated his nominating petition and witnessed all of the signatures that were submitted.

Eagan's complaint alleges Lobman's nominating petition was circulated at the community pool at Holiday City in July by Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick and Councilwoman Lynn O'Toole and that "Lobman was not present and did not witness the signatures."

A message sent to Lobman on Wednesday seeking comment was not answered as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Rodrick, in a text message, said, "Miss Eagan is accustomed to running unopposed for over 20 years as NJEA county president. Clearly she's afraid of some competition."

A hearing on the matter is set for 3 p.m. on Aug. 26 before Ocean County Superior Court Judge Robert Brenner in Toms River.

Nominating petitions require certifications from the person who circulated them swearing under oath that they witnessed each signature from the person who signed.

In addition, Eagan's complaint seeks to have Lobman disqualified because O'Toole notarized the form while knowing Lobman did not witness the signatures.

It also seeks to have Lobman removed because O'Toole notarized it while also signing it in support of Lobman's nomination.

"As a signer of the petition, she acknowledged her interest in securing the candidacy of Lobman. As an interested party, it is improper for her to notarize the nominating petition," the complaint says.

Eagan's complaint also accuses Lobman, Rodrick and O'Toole of a "civil conspiracy ... (that) defrauds the electorate in the 2025 Toms River School Board Election."

The complaint says Eagan submitted an objection to Lobman's petition on Aug. 1, three days after the July 29 deadline for candidates' nominating petitions. A response to the complaint from Ocean County's legal representation said Eagan's complaint was about matters outside what John Catalano, acting Ocean County Clerk, could review for deciding whether a petition was deficient.

Eagan and Lobman are two of three candidates seeking the seat in November. Also on the ballot is Josef Pentz. School board members serve three-year terms.

Eagan is the former president of the Toms River Education Association, the district's teachers union and a former teacher in the district. Her daughter, nephews and a niece are teachers in the Toms River schools, according to a recent Doctrine of Necessity adopted by the board to allow the board to proceed on a vote involving the TREA.

Lobman served briefly on the Toms River Township Council in 2024 after being appointed to Rodrick's council seat when Rodrick became mayor.