There were some close calls and upsets in several Two River area races in Tuesday’s municipal elections, including Holmdel, Sea Bright, Fair Haven, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Oceanport.
Republicans retained their control of the five-member Monmouth County freeholder board.
The results are not considered official by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office until all late mail-in ballots and provisional ballots are counted, which should be on Tuesday, Nov. 12. But that didn’t stop candidates from celebrating their wins as polls closed, surrounded by supporters, at get-togethers in local eateries.
Republicans Tom Arnone and Nick DiRocco won seats on the Board of Chosen Freeholders; Shaun Golden won reelection for Monmouth County Sheriff; and Republicans Gerry Scharfenberger and Serena DiMaso won seats on the General Assembly (D-13).
“Serena DiMaso and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the voters of LD-13 for the incredible faith they have put in us with such a resounding victory last night,” said Scharfenberger in a statement. “I can promise you that we will be unwavering in fighting for all the issues that are important to you, such as lower taxes, a better business environment, safety and security, respect for law enforcement, open space and protection of the environment.”
Golden also thanked everyone who supported him and his team Nov. 5. “I am humbled and honored by the outpouring of support and by the number of volunteers who helped our team to victory,” he wrote on his public Facebook page. “I am so honored to serve another term as Monmouth County Sheriff, and looking forward to serving alongside Tom Arnone and Nick DiRocco. We will continue to work hard to make Monmouth County the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
Results varied in municipal elections in the Two River area, but Holmdel Township was one of the closest races of the evening. Republican Mayor Eric Hinds and running mate Chiung-Yin Cheng Liu faced off against Independents Cathy Weber and Prakash Santhana in a contentious race. Weber and Santhana came out on top. The results were 2,072 votes for Weber; 1,991 for Santhana; 1,965 for Liu; and 1,953 for Hinds. There were 16 write-in votes.
“We had a tremendous show of support from the community,” said Weber on the night of the election. “This campaign was about putting ‘People Over Politics’ and we’re very grateful to the voters of Holmdel for demonstrating their issues and concerns, and trusting us to carry them forward.”
Santhana said on Wednesday that Holmdel residents “sorely needed a change” after issues were raised over who authorized costs related to a potential turf field project, the departure of the former township administrator and accusations of nepotism. “People were ready for a change, so I think that’s what’s reflected in the results,” he said. “My opinion is people primarily wanted to see new blood, new ideas and of course more transparency in the way they run our government, and more involvement.”
And while the Independents won the majority of votes in the township overall, Republicans Hinds and Liu had more votes in several districts.
“It’s been a great nine years. I thank Holmdel for the time I spent being a leader. Now it’s time to spend more time with my family,” said Hinds. “People want change and unfortunately Holmdel wants a different look and they’re going to get it. I did the best I could. I always try to do the right thing and I care deeply about people.”
Down by the shore, things were heating up in Sea Bright with contested races for mayor and borough council. Republican councilman Brian Kelly won the race for mayor against Democrat Jack Sanders, following days of tense arguments among community members on social media. Unofficial tallies show Kelly in the lead with 343 votes versus Sanders’ 161 votes.
“We’re all happy with the results. I’m glad that the governing body has put so much work into the town, along with everyone over the years. I think it’s the best outcome for everybody,” said Kelly on election night. He gave thanks to ever yone who helped him along the way including Dina Long, current mayor, who did not seek reelection.
Sanders offered his congratulations to Kelly, and expressed thanks to his wife, their friends “and to all the voters who came out to support Sea Bright today.”
In a narrow win, unofficial tallies indicated that Democrat Samuel Catalano and incumbent Independent Kevin Birdsall defeated Republican John Lamia Jr. in the race for Sea Bright borough council. As of Wednesday, Nov. 6, results show that Catalano received 292 votes, Birdsall, 264, and Lamia, 252.
In Fair Haven, Democratic newcomers Meghan Chrisner-Keefe and Michael McCue came out on top against Republican incumbents Jonathan Peters and Jacqueline Rice. Unofficial results show that Chrisner-Keefe received 998 votes, McCue, 927, Peters, 595, and Rice, 537.
“We were thrilled with the results,” said Chrisner-Keefe. “All of the candidates ran honorable and respectful campaigns, and I’m really looking forward to serving our community.”
The nonpartisan race for mayor in Highlands continues as incumbent Mayor Richard W. O’Neil is currently six votes short to frontrunner Carolyn Broullon. “It’s a close race. However it works out, is how it works out,” said O’Neil. “You can’t control who wants to affiliate themselves with you.” The outcome may or may not change once all the late mail-in ballots and provisional ballots are counted.
Atlantic Highlands Democratic Mayor Rhonda Le Grice lost her run for reelection against Republican challenger Loretta Gluckstein, with 836 for Gluckstein and 612 for Le Grice. Independent challenger Joshua Leinsdorf received 162 votes.
In Oceanport, Mayor Jay Coffey won reelection, running as an Independent and beating Republican councilman Robert Proto. There were 1,363 votes in Coffey’s favor and 603 for Proto.
Coffey said the results of the race “speak volumes,” in that “it’s nearly a 2-to-1 margin of victory” for himself and the two Independent candidates who won election to the borough council, Thomas J. Tvrdik and Meghan Walker. The newcomers defeated Republican incumbents who ran for reelection, Joseph A. Irace and Stephen Solan.
“It was a rather vitriolic campaign and I think the Borough of Oceanport came out on the side of civility and positive discourse between elected officials and the electorate,” Coffey added. “The people of Oceanport twice in four years have come together as a collective and shown that it’s the community that controls the elections, not the elected officials.”
