.
Feedback

Few Ocean Voters Come Out for Uncontested Races

Only 5.9 percent of county's registered voters went to polls Tuesday, with no contests for county, state seats

With no state or countywide races to propel Democrat and Republicans to the polls, only 5.9 percent of the county’s 365,288 voters took time to nominate candidates for the November general election to fill 12 Legislative seats and one on the freeholder board in Tuesday’s primary election.

There were no contests for party nominations for any of the races to narrow the field for Legislative seats in four districts and a seat on the all-Republican freeholder board.

An off-year election already expected to bring few voters to the polls saw only 13.6 percent of the county’s 103,300 Republicans and 9.95 percent of 74,543 Democrats cast ballots, according to unofficial returns from Ocean County Clerk Scott M. Colabella.

Voters were left with a sprinkling of local contests to generate interest in the election.

In the e, already off to a , Republican incumbent Joseph H. Vicari, a former Dover Township mayor elected to the board in 1980, got 12,041 votes. Michele Rosen, the Democrat, a former member of the Dover Township Committee who now lives in Waretown, received 6,345 votes, according to unofficial results.

Both candidates have been on the attack for weeks, for receiving pensions and salaries at the same time from his freeholder post and job as Berkeley Township Superintendent of Schools, while on Rosen’s personal financial legacy, which includes a dismissed indictment for theft by deception, a bankruptcy, foreclosure and string of bounced checks.

While well-organized Republicans fielded a full slate of candidates Tuesday, no Democrats filed nominating petitions in Tuckerton, Barnegat Light, Bay Head, Eagleswood, for the Lakehurst Council, in Ocean Township, Plumsted, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Tuckerton and Lavallette. Democratic write-in votes were cast in all those contests, so the vacant spots can be filled if those who got those votes accept the nomination.

C June 9, 2011 at 10:57 am
I wanted to vote but was told I couldn't since I'm a registered Republican & wanted to vote out the Republicans & vote Democratic. I don't understand this state law. I vote for the candidate, not by party. My vote wasn't heard & now my choice is not on Nov. ballot. What happened to Freedom of speech & choice?
Frank June 9, 2011 at 01:06 pm
The primary is to chose the candidate from the party you are registered with that you want on the November ballot. If you wanted to vote socialist, I mean democrat, than you should have switched parties by the deadline.
Now in November you can vote for the socialist, woops there I go again, I mean democrat that's on the ticket. What happened to freedom of speech???? That ended with the dumbing down of America through our government controlled education system. The dumber people are the easier they are to control. As evidenced by people that don't understand how our elections work and the masses that chose not to vote so they put control of their life into the usually stupid people that are elected. Democrats have controlled the legislature in NJ for how long? NJ pretty much bankrupt?? So how do voting in more dems fix anything? You must be on the public dole and don't want to contribute to your benefits, right? Well, the private industry has been paying THOUSANDS if not their entire bill for benefits for years now. "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money". Well the time has come, there are not enough PRIVATE industry employees paying taxes to foot the bill anymore. Keep the dems in and I hope the state pension etc does go bankrupt which it eventually will.
Dan June 9, 2011 at 03:11 pm
That pretty much sums it up Frank.... These state union employees are CRYING about contributing 1.5 % towards their benefits. And they call Chris Christie a bully..... what a joke. Meanwhile the taxpayers keep getting squeezed for more !!! So many still living in their bubble. Have they seen the unemployment rate lately??? Be thankful they have jobs rather than complaining about contributing towards their benefits.
Mickey June 9, 2011 at 03:59 pm
wow.....and people are always asking, how do the same politicans keep getting re-elected. I'm also a Republican, but unlike you Frank, I will not be blindly voting by party. you accuse Carol of being a socialist, because she dares not march in step. then you declare you hope the pension system fails, if a Dem gets in, regardless of the diaster it would cause for thousands of families and eventually the state. I find it amazing you're able to not see.... yet look the other way to the countless blunders made by this administration. when so many feel betrayed, you continue support......what's your interest in this ?
Mickey Diaz June 9, 2011 at 11:31 pm
For those of you reading the comments posted by Mickey on the Patch, I would like it understood that the Mickey posting these comments is not Mickey Diaz of Point Pleasant Beach.
C June 10, 2011 at 02:25 am
Thank you Mickey for trying explain what my intentions are by not blindly voting strictly by party. Just because I'm a registered Republican doesn't mean I can't agree with a Democrat. I don't follow, I vote for the candidate who best represents my beliefs. I can't stand Sarah Palin nor do I agree with her political platforms so if she was to run....do I vote for her anyway because I'm a republican? If you would even though you don't agree with her, then you're the one who's dumb!
C June 10, 2011 at 02:30 am
Just to be clear, I was replying to you Frank with my previous comments. &&& guess what? I'm not on any state payroll so save your comments because they don't apply to me.
Lacey_youth October 6, 2011 at 02:04 pm
Do you have any idea what a socialist is Frank? It actually is a great idea. I am a Liberal Socialist and I like republicans sometimes. I am registered as a independent and will never be forced to vote democrat, but i do most of the time. we are getting all of these tax breaks, its amazing the government is making any money..... oh wait, they aren't. I'm not going to start preaching socialism, and back talk the Republicans, because, frankly, both are wrong most of the time. Taxes need to go up and political parties have to be banned.
Lacey_youth October 6, 2011 at 02:38 pm
Carol, go into the booth and press submit. A vote is cast, but for no one. essentially a vote against everyone on that ballot.
yournjnets October 6, 2011 at 04:32 pm
Frank Lacey s broke ocean county would be broke if they both didnt raise taxes
How s the Bush tax cuts working for Jobs Frank? 69 million for 4700 kids Frank hows that working out for the kids or the tax payers Frank feel free to explain to us about corp greed and subsidies Tell us all about capitalism and how it worked out for enron lucent bear stearns lehman brothers banks
yournjnets October 6, 2011 at 04:38 pm
Dan can you explain to us about Enron, Lucent, Bear Stearns, Lehman ,airlines, banks how about golden parachutes do you think that is a cause to raise the price
any idea how much bob nardelli of hd got? please wake up piney repukes corp greed is the real terrorist along with republicon sheep

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Toms River Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Ortley fulltimer June 8, 2013 at 04:01 pm
Great story! Glad to hear your on your way back. Also happy to see someone else noticing that inRead More some places it still looks like Sandy hit yesterday. Some mayors might consider that "complaining".
christine June 8, 2013 at 04:25 pm
To George ~ that is so unfair...plain and simple.
Av June 8, 2013 at 05:02 pm
I live under a gin mill oh yeah me and milk jug