Toms River Voter Guide 2025: Who's Running For Office, Where To Vote

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The 2025 General Election is here, with early voting beginning Saturday. In Toms River, residents will be casting ballots for the four ward seats on the township council, the school board and more.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, but the early voting period runs from Saturday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 2.

Here's what you need to know about who's running and where to vote.

Election Day Essentials

• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 4
• Check if you are registered to vote
• Find ballot drop box locations
• Track your mail-in ballot
• Find your polling place

Toms River Elections

Toms River Township Council

All four ward seats are up for election in Toms River. They are four-year terms.

In Ward 1, Republican Robert Bianchini is facing Democrat Anthony Colucci. Bianchini is the former public works director in Asbury Park. Colucci is the president of the Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association.

In Ward 2, Republican Clinton Bradley is facing Democrat Susan Payne Gato. Bradley is a newcomer. Gato initially ran for the Ward 2 seat in 2024 but withdrew from the race and was replaced by Zach Dougherty.

In Ward 3, Republican Harry Aber is alone on the ballot as there is no Democratic nominee. However, Republican Jim Quinlisk, the incumbent, is running a write-in campaign to win his seat after losing in the June primary.

In Ward 4, Republican David Ciccozzi is facing Democrat Justin Moran. Ciccozzi won a three-way primary in June. Also challenging for the seat is Democrat Paul Williams, who lost in the June primary but is running a write-in campaign.

Toms River Regional Board of Education

There are three seats up for election on the school board, but one each in Toms River, Pine Beach and Beachwood. They are three-year terms.

There are three candidates for the Toms River seat: Kathy Eagan, Josef Pentz, and George Lobman. Eagan challenged Lobman's candidate petition in court but ended up withdrawing her challenge during a court hearing on Sept. 4

Eagan, who was first elected to the board in 2019, is seeking her third term. She is the former president of the Toms River Education Association the district's teachers union.

Pentz is running on the Invest In Kids slogan.

Lobman, who is running on the slogan Stop Tax Hikes, was appointed to the Toms River Township Council to fill the Ward 2 seat held by Rodrick before he became mayor, but stepped down in November 2024 after William Byrne won election to the final year of Rodrick's term.

The seats representing Pine Beach and Beachwood feature incumbents Kevin Kidney (Pine Beach) and Katie Coyne (Beachwood) running unopposed.

Who’s on the ballot in Ocean County?

Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Vote for 1

• Jack Ciattarelli and James Gannon (Republican)
• Mikie Sherrill and Dale G. Caldwell (Democrat)
• Joanne S. Kuniansky and Craig Honts (Socialist Workers Party)
• Vic Kaplan and Bruno Pereira (Libertarian Party)

General Assembly 10th Legislative District
Vote for 2

• Gregory McGuckin (Republican)
• Paul Kanitra (Republican)
• Gigi Esparza (Democrat)
• Janine G. Bauer (Democrat)

Ocean County Sheriff
Vote for 1

• Michael Mastronardy (Republican)
• Regina C. Discenza (Democrat)

Ocean County Clerk
Vote for 1

• John P. "Jack" Kelly (Republican)
• Samuel Pinkava (Democrat)

Ocean County Board of County Commissioners
Vote for 2

• Ray Gormley (Republican)
• Sam Ellenbogen (Republican)
• Arthur Halloran (Democrat)
• Brandon A. Rose (Democrat)

Voting

For the 2025 General Election, Ocean County will have 10 specially designated in-person early voting locations that will be open from Saturday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 2.

Hours for early voting will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. To find early voting locations — voters can go to any of the early voting locations in Ocean County — you can click here.

On Election Day, polls will be open throughout Ocean County from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling locations can be found here or through a search on the NJ Division of Elections website.

To learn more about the 2025 General Election, you can click here.