DECISION DAY: Millions of New Jerseyans went to the polls Nov. 4 to cast ballots in a heated race for governor and some local standoffs, too. (Photo by Ryan Morrill)

Ocean County residents gave Republican Jack Ciattarelli a heaping majority vote for New Jersey governor on Tuesday, outpolling Democrat Mikie Sherrill by a vote of 182,177 to 88, 257, with all 418 voting districts reporting. Statewide, however, Sherrill was projected to win by 56% to 43.4% of the vote.

In the 9th Legislative District, Republican incumbents Brian Rumpf and Gregory Myhre each won re-election to the General Assembly by 30,000 votes more than Democrats Lisa Bennett and Rosalee Keech.

More than a quarter-million ballots, 57% of the county’s registered voters, were cast for the General Election.

Here is a summary of other Election Day unofficial results from voters in the SandPaper readership area.

Barnegat Light

Two incumbent borough council members, Republicans James Gutowski and Barry Mescolotto, ran uncontested. But it was Mescolotto’s first time being elected to the seat, as he was appointed just last month to fill the seat vacated by Councilman Ed Wellington. Wellington was selected as interim mayor following the August death of Mayor Kirk Larson. Council terms are three years, with two council seats up for election each year.

Barnegat Township

Republican Frederic G. Rubenstein defeated his Democratic opponent, former committeewoman Maxine Blumenthal, by a vote of 6,914 to 4,584 for township committee. The seat is presently held by Deputy Mayor Albert Bille, who declined to seek a sixth three-year term.

A former committee candidate, Rubenstein’s service in the township includes former president of the board of education and former chair of the zoning board. He is currently a planning board member.

Blumenthal served on the committee from 2004 to 2006, and had a stint as deputy mayor.

“I feel like I’m on top of the world,” said Rubenstein. “I want to congratulate my opponent for running a clean campaign and I’m hoping to get a chance to work with her. I’ll be there for everyone in town, regardless of who they voted for.”

Barnegat School Board

Two incumbents and a newcomer won three-year terms on the Barnegat Township Board of Education Tuesday.

First-time runner Timothy Pisarro was the top vote-getter with 5,017, with Carol Geene next at 5,007. Board president Scott Sarno was re-elected with 4,513. Newcomer Alpesh Shah fell short with 2,573.

Pisarro ran under the slogan “Students Come 1st.”

“Now I’m looking for sitting down with my fellow board members and look at how we can improve our school district and make the necessary changes,” said Pisarro.

Sarno, Geene and Shah ran as the “Transparency Accountability Trust” ticket. Sarno is in his eighth year as president, having served on the board for 13 years beginning in 2004. Geene was first elected in 2022.

Kelly Myskza, who was elected to a one-year unexpired term last year, did not seek re-election.

Beach Haven School Board

In Beach Haven, board of education incumbents Irene Hughes (president) and Patricia Romanowski ran uncontested for three-year terms.

Eagleswood Township

Reelected to the township committee on Tuesday was incumbent Republican Michael Pasternak, currently serving as mayor, who ran uncontested. The committee terms are three years, but each year the committee members rotate positions so each one gets a turn to serve first as a committee member, then deputy mayor and then mayor. In January, Pasternak will resume the role of committeeman and current Deputy Mayor Michelle Sysol will move up to the position of mayor.

 Eagleswood School Board

Incumbents James Kelly and Bethany L. Miller were the only candidates, as they were re-elected to serve three more years.

Little Egg Harbor Township

Republican incumbent Kenneth W. Laney Jr. was re-elected to the township committee for a three-year term with a total of 6,583 votes. Laney beat out Independent Gabriel Franco, who ran under the slogan “Save Social Security” and received 1,440 votes, despite a lack of campaign. There were just 29 total write-in votes in the township.

Laney was first elected to the committee in 2022 and currently serves as deputy mayor, a position he was nominated for by fellow committee members. Franco has previously been on the ballot for township committee, but has so far been unsuccessful. He also ran for state senator representing District 9 in 2023.

LEHT School Board

There was an unopposed election here. Christine Snyder and Chris Filiciello were re-elected, and joined by newcomer Tiffany Middlecoop, all elected for three-year terms with their promise “Committed to Education.”

Long Beach Island

Consolidated School Board

Thomas Costello ran against Lee-Anne Oros, who was selected for the Barnegat Light seat after longtime board member Marilyn Wasilewski passed away in December 2024. On election night, Costello received 216 votes to Oros’ 140 to become the new representative for the next three years.

“I’m honored and excited to serve on the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District Board of Education representing Barnegat Light,” Costello said on Tuesday after all votes were tallied. “My thanks go out to all who supported me. I look forward to working together to ensure our students receive the highest quality education.”

Meanwhile, for a one-year unexpired term, newcomer Theodore Fluehr was unopposed and will be named the representative for Harvey Cedars, a role currently held by departing board member Frederic Schragger.

The LBI Board of Education is comprised of nine members – four from Long Beach Township; two from Surf City; and one each from Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars and Ship Bottom – who serve terms of three years before facing reelection.

Pinelands Regional School Board

There were three seats available, all representing Little Egg Harbor on the board. Two incumbents, August Daleo and Betti Anne McVey, will serve three more years, and newcomer Florence Grasso will join them, all elected unopposed.

Ship Bottom

Early general election results in Ship Bottom show an active write-in campaign fell short as incumbent Councilman Tom Tallon was voted out of office following nearly three decades on the borough council.

Tallon launched a write-in campaign in September after he failed to garner support in the local Republican primary election in June. For the General Election, he took home a total of 113 votes, including 56 on Tuesday, 27  tallies in early voting and 30 mail-in votes.

Councilman Robert Butkus, former chair of the Ship Bottom Land Use Board and the mayor’s council designee to the board, garnered a total of 451 votes in his bid to be returned to his seat, including 236 on election day, 127 early votes and 88 mail-in votes.

Winning the second open council seat was Republican William Fenimore with 430 votes (222 at the poll Tuesday, plus 127 early-vote ballots and 81 mail-in votes). He is a current member of the land use board.

Southern Regional School Board

When the Southern Regional Board of Education reorganizes in January, a familiar face of more than 25 years will not be sitting among its members. Following nine terms, incumbent Kevin Lyons has been bumped from his seat on the board.

In what many may consider a significant upset, considering Lyons’ longevity within the school district, challenger Lisa Mazzola swiped 4,873 votes compared to the 4,475 secured by the man who has served as the board president on a number of occasions. As of Jan. 7, 2026, Mazzola will join the board as one of Stafford Township’s representatives.

Representing Long Beach Island, incumbents Terry Deakyne and Bethanne Markoski ran unopposed for second terms on the Southern school board.

Stafford School Board

There will be no changes coming in January. Current vice president Kevin Cooney, along with Chris Smith and Joseph Washco, scored the most votes to win back their contested seats.

Smith garnered 6,327 votes, while Cooney earned 5,116 votes and Washco tallied 4,437 votes. They were challenged by Barbara Crystal (3,787) and Erica Petrillo (3,392).

Surf City

Voters in Surf City sent incumbent Councilmen Peter Hartney and Lee Lieber as well as Councilwoman Jacqueline Siciliano back to office on Tuesday. The trio ran unopposed for full terms on the council. It is Lieber’s first election victory since he replaced former Councilman John McMenamin, who resigned in November 2024.

Tuckerton

Republican incumbents Samuel Colangelo and Michael Dupuis Sr. ran unopposed for two council seats. Colangelo was first elected to the borough council in 2013, and is the current council president. Dupuis served in various community roles, including as a board of education member, before joining the council in 2023.

Tuckerton School Board

There was an uncontested race for a trio of three-year terms available. In fact, there was only one candidate on the ballot, incumbent Deborah McMunn.

Therefore, write-in votes could become very important, with people getting the highest number of write-in votes being contacted to see if they are willing to serve. If one or both isn’t willing, the next person on the list would get the opportunity. The write-in situation could not be resolved on Election Night because although the total number of write-in votes will be reported, the names of individuals receiving them will not be immediately known. And if no potential write-in candidate agrees to accept the position, the board would have to attempt to find a person or persons willing to do so, and appoint somebody.

This is not the first time there were not enough names on the ballot to fill all available spots on the Tuckerton Board of Education. A possible solution in the future would be to re-incorporate the school board and reduce the number seats from seven to five.

 Ocean County Vote

County Board of Commissioners

Republicans Ray Gormley, 172,965, and Sam Ellenbogen, 170,007; Democrats Arthur Halloran, 81,243, and Brandon A. Rose, 82,183.

The board’s new members in January are replacing Virginia Haines, who did not seek re-election for a fourth term; and John “Jack” Kelly, who ran for county clerk instead of seeking a 12th term on the county Board of Freeholders/Commissioners, where he served since 1993.

County Clerk

Republican John P. Kelly, 176, 636; Democrat Samuel Pinkava, 79,730.

Sheriff

Republican Michael Mastronardy, 179,318; Democrat Regina C. Discenza, 78,710.

Among Ocean County’s 476,246 registered voters (13,000 more than 2024), 273,550 ballots were counted by 10:30 p.m. Election Day. Of that total, 69,866 went to Early Voting polls (Oct. 25-Nov. 2), and at least 45,398 sent Vote By Mail ballots by Tuesday’s deadline. Late ballots postmarked by Nov. 4 will be added to the count as they arrive in days to come.

— Neal Roberts with staff reports