TOMS RIVER – The entire governing body will be Republican in 2022 – although they might not all be on the same side.
The make-up of the governing body is currently five Republicans and two Democrats with a Republican mayor. Republicans have had a majority for many years. Council seats are four years.
During the primary election, two slates of Republicans fought it out. Justin Lamb and Daniel Rodrick were on the same slate; they won the chance to represent the GOP in Wards 1 and 2. James Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi were on another slate; they won the chance to represent the GOP in Wards 3 and 4. Now, all four of them will be on the dais together.
In Ward 1, attorney and Lavallette police officer Justin Lamb, a Republican, received 5,538 votes and Board of Education member Michele Williams, a Democrat, received 2,114 votes.
“Property taxes are out of control in Toms River, and the taxpayers of Ward 1 especially feel it. Reckless runaway spending is to blame and I intend to expose the waste and vote NO to any proposed spending that increases taxes,” he said prior to the election.
In Ward 2, Republican incumbent Councilman Daniel Rodrick, a teacher, received 6,069 votes and Democrat Jeff J. Horn, an attorney, received 2,665 votes.
“Residents are not interested in seeing any more development, residential or commercial,” Rodrick had said. “We have enough empty storefronts around town, and there have been over 3,000 new units of housing built in the last five years. Residents are fed up with overdevelopment and so am I. I have consistently voted against more development and will continue to oppose the special deals that have enabled an explosion in high-density, residential housing.”
In Ward 3, Republican James J. Quinlisk, a business owner, received 4,099 votes and Democrat Karin Sage, an attorney, received 2,002 votes.
“Allowing business to open and thrive in a community of about 100,000 is good for the businesses and good for the residents of our great town,” Quinlisk said. “Our population has grown by about 10% in the last decade and as a community we need places to shop, places to dine, and places for recreation. We also need places to work. Making it possible for new business to open here and our existing businesses the ability to grow, will increase the tax revenue to the town without raising property taxes for our home owners.”
In Ward 4, Republican David J. Ciccozzi, a planning board member who works in property management, received 3,976 votes. Democrat incumbent Councilman Terrance Turnbach, an attorney, received 2,905 votes.
“One of the best ways we can promote commercial development in Toms River is to ensure we keep our taxes in check, making us a more desirable location to own a business,” Ciccozzi said. “That’ll be my focus from day one. Additionally, no one moved to Toms River for dense housing, but rather for single-family homes and small-town feel. We should seek to preserve the character of our community, rather than reshape it with over overdevelopment.”
The vote totals are unofficial results until the county clerk certifies them at a later date.
