Byrne Wins Toms River Council Ward 2 Race: Unofficial Results

Updated, 11 p.m. Tuesday

TOMS RIVER, NJ — William Byrne, who was a Democrat until just days before his candidate's petition was submitted in March, has won the one-year unexpired term representing Ward 2 on the Toms River Township Council, according to unofficial results.

The unofficial vote tallies from the Ocean County Board of Elections showed Byrne leading Democrat Zachary Dougherty, 8,330 to 4,693 with all 19 districts reporting. There were 13,038 votes cast out of 20,174 registered voters in Ward 2, according to the unofficial tallies.

Dougherty, 23, was challenging Byrne, 82, for the seat that became available after Daniel Rodrick became mayor in January, after a series of moves by Rodrick that have angered many in Toms River.

Byrne became the Republican nominee for the seat after defeating Kevin Geoghegan in the June primary.

Rodrick was seeking to solidify his grip on the Township Council for another year. Though the council is fully Republican, Rodrick has faced opposition from council members Jim Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi over some of the drastic changes he has made.

In addition, Tom Nivison, who was part of the council slate elected with Rodrick, has increasingly opposed moves Rodrick sought to make. The two had a major falling out after Rodrick moved to transfer operations of the Toms River-owned animal shelter to Ocean County. That division increased after the Oct. 23 council meeting.

Rodrick has had full support from council members Justin Lamb, Craig Coleman, Lynn O'Toole and George Lobman. Lobman, who was appointed to Rodrick's former council seat, did not seek election to the final year of the term.

Dougherty said leading up to the election that he hoped to bring transparency back to the township government, a criticism that has been raised repeatedly since Rodrick took office.

In addition to the council race, there were two seats representing Toms River up for election on the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

Rodrick was running the campaigns of two of those candidates: Maria Marisa Matarazzo and Diane Oxley. Also seeking election to the three-year terms were Lisa Contessa, who sat on the board for a term and stepped down, and Jennifer Howe, who was seeking re-election.

According to the unofficial results with all 63 districts reporting in Toms River, Contessa was the top vote-getter with 15,838. Matarazzo holds an 89-vote lead over Howe, 14,322 to 14,233, and Oxley had received 10,521 votes.

The seat representing South Toms River on the Toms River Regional board also was being contested. Joseph Jubert was leading Krista Whittaker 419 to 399, according to the unofficial tallies.

The results remain unofficial until certified by the Ocean County Clerk.

Toms River Township Council Ward 2
1-year unexpired term

William Byrne, 8,330
Zachary Dougherty, 4,693

Toms River Regional Board of Education

Toms River Township representatives, vote for 2
3-year terms

Jennifer Howe, 14,233
Lisa Contessa, 15,838
Diane Oxley, 10,521
Maria Marisa Matarazzo, 14,322

South Toms River representative, vote for 1
3-year term

Krista Whittaker, 399
Joseph Jubert, 419