Toms River School Board Election 2024: Joseph Jubert

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Patch is again publishing profiles of local candidates in the 2024 election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Toms River Regional Board of Education has three seats up for election; two representing Toms River and one representing South Toms River. All are three-year terms.

There are four candidates seeking the Toms River seats. Jennifer Howe is the lone incumbent. Lisa Contessa, who served on the board previously but stepped away for a year, is seeking election. Also running are newcomers Diane Oxley and Maria Marisa Matarazzo. Oxley had run for election to the board in 2023 but was defeated.

The candidates for the South Toms River seat are Krista Whittaker, a regular attendee and speaker at school board meetings, and Joseph Jubert, whose wife Jamie is the borough clerk in South Toms River and served on the Toms River Regional school board years ago.

The candidates received the same questions. Here is the response from Joseph Jubert.

Name:`Joseph Jubert

Age: 66

Family: Jamie, wife.

Education: Graduated from Toms River High School South Class of 1975

Occupation: Retired, was a general supervisor in the Ocean County Road Department for 38 years.

Any previous elected office or appointments in local government?

South Toms River councilman for 12 years; South Toms River Land Use Board; South Toms River Sewerage Authority commissioner; Ocean County Shade Tree Commission

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

Jamie Jubert (wife) South Toms River Acting Municipal Clerk

Melissa Jubert (Daughter in Law), teacher in the Toms River Regional schools

Why are you running for office?

I am proud of the education I received in the Toms River Schools and I want my grandchildren to enjoy the same experience. I feel my knowledge, experience and leadership can help provide the support for the superintendent and administration to ensure that a quality education is provided for generations to come.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing the Toms River Regional School District right now and how would you address it?

Funding, particularly state aid distribution. Funding is being used as a political weapon and we need to work to get a fair and equitable distribution of funds. If the present elected officials can’t do this, then we need to get people in that see the children as a priority not their political agenda.

Name one thing about the Toms River Regional School District that always makes you smile.

Being a TR South graduate, it is definitely the tradition. The victory parade after a football win, the singing of “Old Indian Tom” and the ringing of the Victory Bell. These are memories that I now share with my children and grandchildren.