Newcomers Secure Republican Council Nominations in Lakehurst Primary

A Lakehurst Borough Council incumbent was defeated by two newcomers for the Republican nomination as polls closed in Tuesday's primary.

According to information published by the Ocean County Clerk's office, newcomers Robin Busch and Ed Seaman Jr. took the Republican nominations for borough council, defeating incumbent Patricia Ford.

Busch took 64 votes, or 33 percent, Seaman received 62 votes, or 32 percent and Ford took 54 votes or 28 percent. Write-in candidates made up 8 percent of ballots.

Seaman currently serves as the borough's fire department chief.

Gary L. Lowe, of Willow Street, filed a petition today as an independent candidate for a three-year council term. Lowe previously served as a Lakehurst Police sergeant until he left the force following an injury in November 2009.

No candidates petitioned for the Democratic council nomination. According to borough Clerk Bernadette Dugan, Greg Morris, the borough's assistant fire chief who lives on Cedar Street, received 13 write-in votes and Land Use Board member Maranda Salas of Church Street received one write-in vote.

In the Republican mayoral primary, Harry Robbins ran unopposed and received 96 percent of the vote — totalling 90 ballots — with 4 percent choosing to write in a candidate.

On the Democratic side, newcomer Leroy Smith Jr. received 86 percent of the vote — totalling 19 ballots — with 3 percent writing in their choice.

Councilman Sidney Hooper and Mayor Timothy Borsetti . 

Manchester will not hold elections until 2012, when the seats of councilmembers Frederick Trutkoff, Kenneth Vanderziel and Warren Reither become available.