Republican incumbents coasted to re-election Tuesday night, preserving the GOP's control of the freeholder board and sheriff's office.
Voters re-elected longtime GOP freeholders Gerry Little and John C. Bartlett Jr. and Sheriff William L. Polhemus by wide margins, with 99 percent of votes reported at 11:30 p.m.
Unofficially, Little and Bartlett captured 111,630 votes and 117,495 votes, respectively, far exceeding the totals recorded for Democratic candidates Joseph Grisanti (74,261) and Pat Barndt (71,738). Independent challengers Scott Newman and Tracy Caprioni each struggled to capture 1 percent of votes cast, with 3,510 and 3,828 votes, respectively.
Polhemus will enter his 28th year in office in 2013 after garnering nearly 56 percent of the vote for sheriff with 110,450 votes. Democratic challenger George "Bob" Armstrong garnered 82,031 votes cast, and Independent John McMenamin received less than 3 percent, with 5,140 votes.
With Little and Bartlett’s re-election, the five-member freeholder board remains stable for the 10th straight year.
Little will be entering his 10th year on the Ocean freeholder board after long experience in government, including a council stint in Surf City and tenure on the Long Beach Township Board of Commissioners. He served as director of the board in 2006 and deputy in 2011 and 2009.
Little also served as chief of staff for the 9th Legislative District from 1984 until his retirement in 2003. Little, a former Marine, also served on the Ocean County Planning Board and county Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Council. As a freeholder, Little has chaired Human Services and worked as the liaison to departments including Veterans Services, Social Services and more.
Bartlett, the chairman of the Departments of Finance and Parks and Recreation, is a former Pine Beach mayor and councilman as well as an ex-teacher at Toms River High School North. He served as director of the freeholder board five times previously and was deputy director twice.
He will enter his 34th year in office.
Provisional ballots are still outstanding and must be counted before the Ocean County Clerk's Office certifies the results.
Freeholder Race
| Republican | Results | Democrat | Results | Independent | Results |
| Gerry Little | 111,630 | Joseph Grisanti | 74,261 | Scott Newman | 3,510 |
| John Bartlett | 117,495 | Patricia Barndt | 71,738 | Tracy Caprioni | 3,828 |
Sheriff's Race
| Republican | Results | Democrat | Results | Independent | Results |
| William C. Polhemus | 110,450 | George 'Bob' Armstrong | 82,031 | John McMenamin | 5,140 |
General Election
| Race | Democrat | Results | Republican | Results |
| U.S. President | Barack Obama | 88,688 | Mitt Romney | 126,328 |
| U.S. Senate | Robert Menendez | 86,199 | Joe Kyrillos | 113,881 |
Public Question Results
| Question | Yes | No |
| Question No. 1: Building Our Future Bond Act | 85,232 | 75,280 |
| Question No. 2: Constitutional Amendment Allowing Contributions to Be Taken From Justices' and Judges' Salaries for Their Employee Benefits | 136,788 | 23,776 |
Mac
6:37 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I remember the days when being a Republican had some honor and value attached to it. Then along came Gilmore. And I also remember when Romney had values; the values that cost him reelection as a Governor. Now he represents everything, which is nothing more than being another national Republican standard-bearer. Maybe there will be a real Republican in next year's election. I hope I'm living in that state if such an event ever happens again.
peaches
10:09 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
so mac you vote for Obama? good move
Rufus O'Callahan
1:56 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
There are some very good third party candidates competing for seats this year. I suggest looking into them. I'm definitely voting for the Democratic-Republican candidates for Freeholder (Neuman & Caprioni), and pretty much every independent candidate is superior to the two bums running on the major party tickets for Congress in the 3rd District (Jon Runyan & Shelley Adler), though I have to admit to being partial to Rob Witterschein.
GB Shore
4:31 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Curious what your definition of a real Republican is.
poppajon
6:39 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Aint the same as it used to be huh Mac! guess ya gotta get an I pad and listen to rap crap music!
Bob H
10:51 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Remember that Obama is to the Right of Eisenhower, who was a true Republican in 1952-1960... and to the Right of Lincoln as well, simply because the Republican Party has shifted so far to the right that the Democratic Party has also moved to the right and now fills the center-right the way those old time Republicans did. And the Tea Party has driven them further to the right, as has Grover Norquist with his promise demand, which I extract from John O'Brien, a Maryland Lawyer, U.S. Army veteran
"I Senator/Representative, pledge to the taxpayers of my district and my state and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal tax rate for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."
So without increasing the amount of money the government takes in and without increasing taxes on the top 1 or 2%, how do you propose to get the deficit down and how do you propose to eliminate the excess spending on the military that the Republicans started under Bush with their two wars, and which the Republicans are loath to end because the supply chain from the companies that produce the weapons, aircraft, ships, and equipment will all lose business if the size of the military and the money spent on the military is reduced.
GB Shore
11:13 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Bob H, with all due respect....you CANNOT possible tell me that Ibama, Pelosi, Reid etc. are center right...that is just worng. cneter was Clinton....Obama is center right? that is simple an incredibly worng statement...maybe you want to believe that but you are not honest with yourself. To the right of Lincoln? Here is a quote by Lincoln and you tell me Obama is right of him:
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." Let's not try to re-write history Bob H.
Mac
4:58 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Yes, President Eisenhower was a real Republican. And in between heart attacks, he played more golf than President Obama could even dream about playing in 8 years. Under Ike’s leadership, we won WWII and rebuild America to be a successful and thriving world leader.
HELP..
7:44 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Sandy is going to hurt voting turn out..Not #1 on a lot of folks agenda..
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
7:56 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Freeholder Choices.
1.) GILMORE/RITACCO
2.) NORCROSS
or
3.) Independent
Choosing between two masters makes one no less a slave - vote independent, OCEAN.
LT Guy
4:43 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I think it's more like:
1) GILMORE (Ritacco was just an underling)
2) GET A CLUE (neither of them have one. Norcross wouldn't waste his time.)
or
3) independant
I went independant.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
4:47 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
LT Guy - from what I am hearing so far - many did.
Long night ahead....hope I had your support - sounds like, at least, my Freeholders did.
David Fischer
10:05 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Brick Township residents... If you do not like politics interfering with your school-system and Board of Education, vote for David Fischer. I took not political donations from anyone so I owe no political favors!
http://brick.patch.com/articles/boe-candidate-profile-david-fischer-1fb87a34
Richard Skinner
10:24 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Vote no to Pat Barndt..
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
1:07 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Certain persons were let on the island, yesterday?
Ken
11:55 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I can't believe the voters reelected Polhemus. I don't think he even knows where he is. The people of Ocean County and Toms River deserve what they get. What a bunch of sheep.
Rufus O'Callahan
12:00 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I believe it. They would vote for Adolf Hitler if he were running for office as a Republican. You would be astounded at how many people cast mindless "down the column" votes. Disappointing, but it just proves the laziness of most people when it comes to elections.
Mr. ?
12:02 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Polhemus? Patronage and drool. All they / we get is another entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. Next record will be for stupid Repub voters of Ocean County...and sheep?...lemmings.
Sall
8:23 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Very depressing to say the least that he won and by the margin he did too.
WhyOhWhy
8:26 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I'm with you Ken.... he won by popularity. Because if people voted the right way he would NEVER have been re-elected! How can a man of his age do a proper job let alone drive a car ? Remember he is part of the age group that these very people complain about that he should be OFF the road. Oh, wait, maybe we can hire him a driver and add that to the salary ! <shakin my head>
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
12:47 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Heartfelt thanks for our supporters....Frederick John LaVergne.
Will be working on 2014 starting TOMORROW
Jerseyclone
5:29 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
What the hell is wrong with the citizens of ocean county. Why does the old fool polhemus keep getting elected when he can not do his job. He is the head Emergency Management person for the county and he can not be found during this disaster. WAKE OCEAN COUNTY
John B Taxpayer
5:55 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The American Voter- Un-Informed decision makers.
John B Taxpayer
5:56 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
And those getting something for nothing.....
HR
6:11 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Polhemus getting reelected is a complete ignorant move on the part of voters. I'm a die hard Republican and yesterday I taught my child you always have to vote your head not just because someone is in your party. Too bad voters couldn't teach their own kids the same concept. He will get paid $170,000+ a year between salary and pension for the people around him to do his job for him. You can NEVER trust anyone who refuses to debate the issues when running for a public position.
I have spoken
6:33 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Congrats Little, Bartlett glad your both back in.As for Polhemus, I'm sickened this LOSER, no-show mental incompetant was reelected. What the heck where you voters thinking to keep a man who is not able to do the job, home all day collecting my taxdollars. Shame on you all. This man needed to GO.
Xavier
7:19 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I know of at least two votes Polhemus didn't get. Unfortunately, he still got enough to ensure he will probably die of old age while in office.
Scott Neuman
8:51 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I want to thank everyone for your support. I started my campaign based on a few plans. I knew fighting the Gilmore Machine and the Ghost of Ritacco would be tough but as one says, if I'm going to complain and want change in a corrupt environment, you have to apply yourself. With no money, little name recognization, the support of the Democratic-Republican Party (which the county clerk illegally removed from the ballots), getting bracketed with the 9/11 team, (Instead of getting completely bracketed with D-R Party), not putting a single sign up, not taking a campaign donation, starting the campaign only six months into the election, and running with one of the best teachers and guys in the state, we still got 1 to 2% of the vote. For Tracy Caprioni and I to get those votes was truly a honor and I think all of you for your support. This was my first time running for office and it was certainly a learning process. An eye opener if you would. I had nothing against either party. I just felt I and Tracy were the better people for the job. More so after Hurricane Sandy. The way the people of this county are being treated is horrible. The Freeholders should be screaming bloody murder. I can't remember an article in the Press or the Patch or the Toms River Online News from them on a daily basis on how this is being handled by them. Daily information needs to be given. Access to homes needs to be given. The Colts Neck Mayor screamed and got some action. How about Ruynon, Smith???
Billabong
10:55 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I went to vote yesterday and when it came to the local elections, I certainly wasn't going to vote for Polhemus. So I went with Scott and Tracy. It really boggles the mind how people keep reelecting the same people who are not getting the job done. It's not about party, it's about progress and results.
Frederick John LaVergne for Congress
9:05 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
It has been an honor, sir.
ballyjduf
9:48 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Sheriff
Votes Processed - Polling Place/Percent : 411/411 100.00%
Vote Count Percent
REP - William L. Polhemus 121,177 55.92%
DEM - George 'Bob' Armstrong 89,425 41.27%
- John McMenamin 5,952 2.75%
Write-In 141 0.07%
Total 216,695 100.00%
A DEAD MAN ELECTED
Washed ashore
1:43 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
A dead man elected HA! Better than a dumb donkey like Obama!
Thank God OCEAN COUNTY voters have brains. G O P!!!!!
lisa
4:45 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
was at a dinner once with polhemus sitting at our table. he practically had to be fed and that was ten years ago..lol
fewgrg
3:02 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
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