Toms River's Township Council and Board of Education will hold reorganization meetings this week. Council members are scheduled to meet in Town Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. for the governing body's reorganization meeting; members of the Board of Edcuation will do the same at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3 in the Toms River High School North auditorium. With the two elected members of the Township Council already sworn in, only normal reorganization business such as the awarding of professional contracts and election of the body's president and vice president will take place, according …

During a brief ceremony Tuesday evening, two appointed members of Toms River's Township Council were sworn in after winning their seats in November.  Alfonso Manforti, representing Ward 4, and Jeffrey Carr, of Ward 3, were administered their oaths at the council's first regular meeting in December. Both terms for the Republican representatives are for one year and will expire on Dec. 31, 2013. "You'll make a wonderful addition to our council," said Council President Mo Hill.  Manforti, the current Ward 4 councilman, defeated Democratic challenger Eli Eytan by about a 1,000 vote margin in …

2011 is over, but many of the same issues, projects and faces will be around in 2012, officials at the annual reorganization meeting of Toms River said this evening. Sworn into his second term, Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher laid out the agenda for the coming year. He said he expects the 2012 budget to again be challenging to put together, in that state aid levels have fallen off dramatically over his last term. However, the mayor pointed to 2011 as a year of great cooperation and hard work in spite of financial obstacles. Kelaher said that they literally weathered the storm in 2011, facing the …

Brick Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis will voluntarily cut his salary to $1 per year for the remainder of his term, he announced at the end of Tuesday night's township council meeting. Acropolis currently earns $52,000 in his post as the full-time mayor of Brick, but has taken criticism for also maintaining another full-time job as Toms River MUA commissioner from which he earns $92,000. "The people have spoken loud and clear," Acropolis said, referencing the recent township council election, where incumbent Republicans were swept out of office by Democratic newcomers. "If we as elected officials …

The township council may enter 2012 with two vacancies to be filled by the Toms River Republican Club. Coming out of the November election, Ward 3 Councilman Mo Hill won a seat as the at-large councilman. Councilman Gregory McGuckin was elected to the District 10 Assembly seat. Both will vacate their current township council spots before being sworn in to their respective new seats. Hill isn’t going anywhere, just moving into the at-large council seat on the council, which is one that speaks to town-wide issues as opposed to representing a particular ward’s voice on the council. Neither …

The dust from this year's election has settled. Or has it? Democrat challenger Michele Rosen's bid for longtime Freeholder Joseph Vicari's seat was unsuccessful, but after the results came in Tuesday, she pledged to be back for 2012. "Next year's campaign starts now," Rosen said at the county Democrats' party at The Tuscan House in Toms River. In 2012, Freeholders John Bartlett's and Gerry Little's respective terms expire. Vicari easily fended off Rosen's challenge by capturing more than 65 percent of the vote, with 67,880 votes to Rosen's 35,961 tallies. Rosen regularly attended Freeholder …

Letter to the editor as submitted by Toms River Council President Maurice Hill: I would like to thank the more than 15,000 Toms River residents who voted in Tuesday’s election.  One of the most important freedoms we enjoy as citizens of this great country is the right to vote.  We vigorously debate issues and then express our opinion peacefully via the ballot box.  On behalf of the Mayor Thomas Kelaher, Councilmen at Large George Wittmann, John Sevastakis and myself I want to thank the people who voted for us and supported us.  I also want to thank all those who worked tirelessly on our …

Gregory McGuckin’s face reddened as he smiled behind glistening eyes to accept victory as District 10 assemblyman, thanking supporters from the podium of the county Republican victory party Tuesday night. The longtime Toms River Council president couldn’t take a step in any direction without being greeted by a handshake, a hug, or congratulations. “I am so proud to stand here,” McGuckin said. “We are a party of opportunity and I am so thankful for the opportunity.” The GOP team of James Holzapfel, McGuckin and David Wolfe won seats by a wide margin. Holzapfel, a Brick resident and incumbent …

After the polls closed, local Republicans converged on the Holiday Inn in Toms River. And for the most part, celebrated wins in local towns as well as in county and state races. Here is our gallery from the evening.

District 10 and Ocean County voters overwhelmingly chose the Republican ticket when heading to the polls Tuesday. With almost all districts reporting results as of 10:45 p.m., the GOP team of James Holzapfel, Gregory McGuckin and David Wolfe have won seats in the Legislature, while Freeholder Director Joseph Vicari cruised to victory over Democratic challenger Michelle Rosen. Holzapfel, a Toms River resident and incumbent assemblyman, will take the two-year Senate seat long inhabited by retiring incumbent Andrew Ciesla, while Toms River councilman McGuckin and incumbent Wolfe will head to the…

It was a clear win for Republicans in Toms River, who re-elected Thomas Kelaher to his second term as mayor by a 2 to 1 margin in many districts. According to unofficial results, Kelaher established a strong lead early against challenger and former mayor Paul Brush. The incumbent won 62 out of 63 districts. In the race for three at-large council seats, Republicans again commanded victory in Toms River, with current council member John Sevastakis, George Wittmann and Maurice Hill winning over challengers Mary Malagiere, Matthew Sage and Robert Bianchini. The unofficial results: Mayor race (15,…

8:45 p.m. update: "It would be fair to say a pattern has emerged," said Town Clerk Mark Mutter. 8:36 p.m. update: With more than a dozen districts reporting, Kelaher continues to outpace Brush in race for mayor of Toms River. 8:18 p.m. update: With four districts reporting, Kelaher is up over Brush. In districts 21, 2, 3 and 10, the incumbent mayor is the top vote getter. 7:50 p.m. update: With the polls about to close at 8 p.m., we're headed over to Town Hall as Town Clerk Mark Mutter tabulates polling places' votes as they come in. We'll be reporting from town hall as well as both the …

Today's ballot is a race for mayor, Toms River council, Ocean County Freeholder, 10th District and a state ballot question. Here's some information to help you navigate it all. In Toms River, polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are unsure where your scheduled polling location is, call the town clerk's office (732-341-1000) or the county board of elections (800-452-5254.) Remember to bring a picture ID. Click here for live updates on Election Day to find out what's up with the candidates, polling locations and of course the results. Want to know more about the candidates? Toms River has …

We've asked each of the six council candidates and three mayoral candidates for Toms River what their top issues were and how they would address them. Among the solutions were finding efficiencies and dissolving independent authorities while keeping services level. How would the candidates address a growing budget and the tax impact on cash-strapped residents? We want to know what you're number one question is. What  issue do you feel is tops to you as a resident of Toms River, heading into Election Day for Toms River Mayor and Council? It's our question of the day.

The race for mayor this year is a three-way one between a Republican incumbent, a Democratic former mayor, and an independent candidate. That the mayoral race is between three candidates, though, is not unusual for Toms River Township. Since the town switched from Dover Township to Toms River Township, each mayoral race has been a three-way race, said Township Clerk Mark Mutter, who also serves as town historian. This will be the third mayoral election under the new form of government. This year, the race is between Democrat Paul Brush, Republican Thomas Kelaher and Independent Donald Flett. …

Democratic candidate for Mayor Paul C. Brush, 69, Agincourt Road resident. CPA Please briefly explain what professional and civic/volunteer experience you have. Feel free to include job experience, awards, or schooling. – US Navy veteran; Certified Public Accountant; OC Freeholder 1990 – 1993; first elected Mayor of Toms River served 2004 – 2008; current member of Toms River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; current Treasurer of Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity; current member of Ocean County Natural Lands Preservation Trust Advisory Committee since 1998; first recipient of Toms …

Incumbent Thomas F. Kelaher; Cranmoor Dr., Toms River, Republican candidate for mayor. Biography: Ocean County Prosecutor. Retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Past Deputy Attorney General of New Jersey. Graduate of St. Peter’s Preparatory School and St. Peter’s College - receiving Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.  Seton Hall University School of Law, receiving a Juris Doctor Degree. Chairman of Clara Maass Medical Center. Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Barnabas Health Care System. Past President of …

Editor's Note: We asked each of the three candidates for Toms River mayor to answer our candidate's profile. Their answers appear here verbatim. We have disabled comments on profile articles to ensure the candidates' statements speak for themselves and readers can decide, without additional, potentially anonymous commentary, their view on those running for office. Independent candidate for mayor, Donald R. Flett Campaign slogan: honesty, hard work, humility Biography: 63, licensed professional sanitary/hydraulic engineer, local business owner, father of 3, grandfather of 4, area resident for …

Heading into Election Day, Toms River Republicans are outspending Democrats in the race for mayor and council, and doing so by a wide margin. Mayor Thomas Kelaher and council candidates John Sevastakis, George Wittman and Maurice Hill (all incumbents) have spent more than three times the amount former mayor Paul Brush has spent with his slate of Robert Bianchini, Mary Malagiere and Matthew Sage. Meanwhile, the lone independent candidate, Donald R. Flett, has done so little spending he is not required to report it to the state. Kelaher and his team have spent just under $60,000 through the end…

Today on Toms River Patch we're rolling out candidate profiles for the six men and women vying for three at-large seats on the Toms River Township Council. It's the first of several days of coverage before the election, and we'll be there as the results roll in Tuesday and also to examine it all afterward. The council race finds three Democrats — Mary Malagiere, Matthew Sage and Robert Bianchini — challenging incumbents John Sevastakis and George Wittmann, with Ward 3 Councilman Mo Hill on the Republican slate as the third at-large candidate. Check out all six candidate profiles today. Later…